[NYTr] VVAW - Another Vets' Day event - Chicago - Sat, 11/10

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

[sorry this is a mess, but that's how it arrived. - NYTr]

Vietnam Veterans Against the War
http://www.vvaw.org

Tom Shepherd <tomshepherd2001 at yahoo.com>/ wrote:

     To Friends in the Peace Movement:

     This weekend, on November 11, marks Veterans Day -a day set aside
to honor those who have defended our country in years past, as well as
     those who serve in the military today. We especially pay tribute to
     the brave men and women who gave their lives in the service of
their country.

     While we can argue against the current conflict (occupation) in
     Iraq, it is hard to imagine anyone not supporting our troops in
that far away land, as well as other places where we have military
     stationed. We can support them by wishing an end to the military
     operations; by wanting to bring all troops home quickly-alive and
     well; by opposing the current administration's errant visions of
     perpetual war and invasions; by demanding that the government
     provide proper veteran's health and welfare services; and by
praying for, or reflecting upon, the souls of those who have been
killed in action.

     On Saturday, November 10, the Historic Pullman community on
     Chicago's far-south side will conduct its annual Veterans Day
     Observance at the gate of the Pullman Elementary School grounds.
     There, a monument is located with the names of a dozen neighborhood
     men who perished in wartimes inscribed on it. This ceremony, as in
     the past couple years, will offer a departure from traditional
     Veterans Day observances in that we will be hosting a speaker with
a decidedly anti-war view.

     We would like to invite you to share in paying tribute to our
fallen soldiers, and in hearing remarks by *Ray Parrish*, G.I.
     counselor for the local chapter of Vietnam Veterans Against the
War.

     Ray grew up in the military. His mother was one of the first women
     in the USAF. Ray's father was in the Merchant Marines in WWII,
     transferred to the US Army on his 18th birthday and put on a new
     uniform when the USAF was created. He retired in 1973 as a CMSgt.
on a total disability after 30 years and two tours of Vietnam.

     Ray, Sgt., USAF, 72-75, was trained as a Russian Linguist, served
as an intelligence analyst in Turkey and spent his last year cleaning
     rain gutters at Pope AFB. He worked his way thru college as a
     part-time veteran's counselor and a full time activist. He ran the
     Midwest Comm. for Military Counseling for a decade until the
funding ran out in 1995. Then he spent five years as an American Legion
     Veterans Service Officer until the VA had him fired. For the 3
years before coming to VVAW, he was a mental health caseworker
     reintegrating the homeless into the community.

     Ray might be joined by a young vet from the Iraqi conflict,
     depending on arrangements in scheduling.

     We hope you will join us for this solemn occasion, which will be
     conducted outdoors (dress warm!). Complete details are below:

     EVENT: The Pullman Civic Organization Annual Veterans Day
Commemoration

     DATE: Saturday, November 10, 2p.m. - 2:30p.m.

     LOCATION: Pullman Elementary Schoolgrounds;
     11300 South Forrestville Ave.

     Some of the dignitaries that have been invited to speak are: Cong.
     Jesse Jackson Jr., Alderman Anthony Beale, and State Sen. Donne
     Trotter; State Representative Connie Howard (confirmed); Lt.
     Governor Patrick Quinn; Father Mark Krylowicz (Holy Rosary/St.
     Anthony Churches), and Rev. Jerrod Keys (Pullman United
     Methodist/Greenstone Church); Ray Parrish, Vietnam Veterans Against
     the War.

     Also, the Carver Military color guard and the choir from Poe
     Classical School will perform.
     -------------------------------------------------
     Tom Shepherd; President, Pullman Civic Org.
     Member, Southsider for Peace
     773-370-3305

     __________________________________________________

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