Author’s Note: On Veterans Day the group calling themselves "Veterans for Peace" held a demonstration at our county seat. I have received several phone calls about it and have decided, in my usual fashion to write a letter to the local papers.
VETERANS FOR PEACE...?
On Veterans Day there was a protest on the "Green" in Montrose, organized by Veterans for Peace (VFP), an organization of about 4000 nationwide dedicated to the abolition of war, founded by ex-service members in 1985. This is the same group who, aligned with Cindy Sheehan on September 24, 2005, tried to continue their demonstration through the Viet Nam Memorial in Washington, D.C. About thirty "Brothers of the Nam" and myself, who happened to be visiting the wall that day, convinced them that protesting a war does not honor the dead and that their signs were actually an affront to the memory of those brave men and women. I stood next to a vet, at the entrance to the wall, whose political views apposed mine. We joined together to protect the solemn memory of our comrades, not to express political views. Their signs did not go through.
There are many citizens of the former South Viet Nam residing in California, who still fly the flag of their country, VFP urged the California Legislature to "follow established diplomatic protocol and continue to recognize only the flag of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam as representing Viet Nam in all of their public and civic functions." In 2001, at their National Convention, they called on the end to the United States "War on Drugs." VFP makes the fantastic claim that the U.S. initiated the Korean War. According to their website, "The truth is that the Korean War really started in 1945 when the U.S. suppressed the KPR government and imposed its military rule in the southern part of Korea." They have worked closely with the National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth (NNOMY). As its name indicates, NNOMY seeks to build a national network of anti-U.S.-military organizations. Rocco DiPippo of FrontPageMagazine.com states, "A key player in aiding NNOMY's young foot soldiers is the anti-war, anti-U.S. pro-totalitarian outfit VFP. Comprised of disgruntled and disillusioned veterans, VFP makes its membership available to help all counter-recruitment groups strengthen their anti-military message. In that capacity, VFP members give anti-military testimonials at high schools and colleges across the country and try to persuade students to not join the military. Like all major players in the movement, VFP has a solid history of sympathizing with America's enemies including the Marxist Sandinistas and Fidel Castro."
The fact that they are anti-war, anti-military and anti-Bush is well known and they do indeed have their "right" to protest but, as a veteran, I must point out that their timing and manner of observing that right is not only in bad taste, it is an affront to the sensibilities of any intelligent citizen. Mr. Ken Rodden, a Viet Nam veteran from Rush Township, called me and told me that when he told one of the protesters that he thought their actions shameful, he was bombarded with profanity. Such is their honor and respect for veterans.
Why schedule their protest around veterans rather than during elections or political gatherings? Perhaps it is because the shock value might get them more media attention – their true goal. Rather than honor the veterans, living, dead, or held in captivity, they prefer to use them as pawns for their anti-war rhetoric. At the same time that they were putting on their protest, I was attending Gardner Warner Post 154, of the American Legion. They held a service honoring the POW-MIA and fallen veterans, as were many other true veteran groups. It was solemn and respectful of those gone or held in captivity. Politics were not an issue because it simply did not belong.
I have been told that to procure a permit to hold any function on the green, one must go through the commissioners' office. Why would they have been granted a permit? I would hope that this organization merely duped the commissioners into thinking they had a legitimate veteran cause. To think otherwise would be to add yet another slap in the face to our county's veterans.