Veterans For Peace - Chapter 10

2010 Tom Paine Winter Soldier Peace and Justice Awards Dinner

We had so much fun last year we are doing it all again, the second annual Tom Paine Winter Soldier Peace and Justice Awards Dinner on Thursday, October 14, 2010 at Evans Public House. Steel Street Rose will be back and we have the grand opportunity to honor three excellent and very accomplished peace workers. We aren't going to tell you about everyone now but needless to say, it was difficult to limit our selection to three as there are so many deserving folks in our community who work tirelessly for peace and justice.  So please save Thursday,  October 14, 2010 for a community celebration. More to come soon.

The awards dinner and presentations will be held at Evan’s Public House on Route 20 (Western Avenue) immediately across from the Guilderland Center Office Complex, about a quarter of a mile past 146E. Social hour will begin at 6 PM and dinner at 7 PM. Reservations are required by October 12, 2010 and can to be made by contacting Dan Wilcox at 518-482-0262 or through our Contact Us Page. The cost is $30 per person.  Please make your check out to Veterans For Peace.  On the memo line please write awards dinner. Kindly mail your check to:

Dan Wilcox
280 S. Main Avenue
Albany, NY 12208

For complete information about the award,
honorees and evening, kindly continue scrolling down.

The Veterans For Peace, Chapter 10,
Tom Paine Winter Soldier Peace and Justice Award
 

On December 23, 1776 in the first of his Crisis Papers, Tom Paine wrote: 

“THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER" and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.”

The winter of 1776 was bleak; the going tough and no clear path to victory was seen. With their enlistments completed, many of the men who had joined in the summer were leaving the cause of freedom, peace and justice and returning home. They were the ‘summer soldiers’ and the ‘sunshine patriots.’ However the true patriots and visionaries, resolved in their determination, empowered by the light of truth; carried on in the pursuit of life, liberty and justice.

With the evolution of the Republic, “a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.” and foreseeing the possibility of its subsequent loss, the term Winter Soldier was born.  The Winter Soldier is any man or woman who stands firm in the face of great adversity in its many shapes and forms and works towards a peaceful and civil society; respecting the inalienable rights provided for in the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. The recipients of the Tom Paine Winter Soldier Peace and Justice Award have worked tirelessly and nonviolently to end war and to develop a peaceful and civil society. There is no greater tyranny than the tyranny of war, no greater enemy of democracy and no larger threat to humanity.

For their exemplary, nonviolent and tireless efforts on behalf of Peace our recipients this year (October 14, 2010) are  Elliot Adams, Linda LeTendre and more to come soon . . .

About our Honorees

Elliott Adams, past national President of Veterans For Peace, was a paratrooper in the infantry serving in Viet Nam, Japan, Korea, and Alaska. He has served his local community in upstate New York in a variety of capacities such as: President of the School Board, Mayor, Committee Chair of BSA Explorer Post 17, President of Rotary, Chamber of Commerce, and Master of the Masonic Lodge. He has done organizing work for United For Peace and Justice, War Resisters League, School Of Americas Watch, Peace Has No Borders, Veterans For Peace and many other organizations.

Elliot has transformed himself from soldier to nonviolent warrior.  He has also done nonviolence and social movement trainings for Fellowship Of Reconciliation, School Of Americas Watch, Peacemakers of Schoharie County, Student Environmental Action Coalition, War Resistors League,  and other groups. He is currently Nonviolent Training Coordinator of Veterans For Peace.

He is dedicating his life to stopping the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and abolishing all war. This work has taken him from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Mexico border to Canada. For this works he has testified before the US Congress Judiciary Committee, attended Parliament in Canada, and been arrested numerous times.

Linda LeTendre

 Raised Roman Catholic, Linda LeTendre has been a life long Quaker in her heart (actually joining in 1977) so when asked about her religion she tells people that she is “Quatholic”. She is also a self proclaimed  “Danhead” (a devotee of Fr. Daniel Berrigan) and believes that the 11th commandment is “Thou shat provoke”.

She became active in nonviolent civil disobedience in March of 2004 after the death of a cherished friend from leukemia. So far she has eleven arrests for Christian witness against war and torture. One arrest resulted in a conviction in 2008 for “unlawful free speech on Supreme Court grounds” for which she served a year of unsupervised probation.

Ms. LeTendre is active in the Saratoga Peace Alliance, witnessing for peace at their weekly Saturday vigil in downtown Saratoga Springs and helping to arrange numerous teaching programs about peace and justice for the community. For the last two years she has helped to organize “Peace-ing It Together”, the peace fair in Saratoga Springs, NY. She is a member of Witness Against Torture and for the last two years has spent a week in Washington DC witnessing with them against torture at the Capitol and the White House. She has also witnessed, marched and taken part in actions with Veterans for Peace.

Along with four other people, Ms. LeTendre has recently founded “Upstate Kairos” a group that can be  described as a safe haven for peacemaking Christians in the war making state and in war blessing churches (all faiths are welcome).

Ms. LeTendre volunteers for the Temple Sinai's Bread and Torah project, baking weekly at the Slice of Heaven bakery in Saratoga Springs, delivers food for the local food pantry, sings in the choir at the Presbyterian-New England Congregational church and has done missionary work in Uganda. She has also been a Rotarian for almost 20 years and hangs at the Catholic Worker houses in NYC and DC whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Married to the love of her life (who is also very proud of her), she lives in Saratoga Springs with two cats and a dog.

2009  The Tom Paine Winter Soldier Peace and Justice Award Dinner

The Tom Paine Winter Soldeir Peace and Justice Award dinner was all we had hoped for, a moment of celebration honnoring Ed Bloch, Trudy Quaif and Steve Wickham. Their exemplary and tireless work for peace and justice brought our community to its feet with respect, admiration and love.   Members of VFP,BNP,GNP, SPA, PA, WAW,CP, and others, 62 in all,  packed our room at Evans Public House for an evening of community and friendship. The food was excellent, the speakers were eloquent and the music provided by Steel Street Rose was excellent. Thanks everyone for coming and making this a great party and wonderful memory for all involved.

Ed Bloch, Trudy Quaif & Steve Wickham (left to right)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

The awards dinner and presentations will be held at Evan’s Public House on Route 20 (Western Avenue) immediately across from the Guilderland Center Office Complex, about a quarter of a mile past 146E. Social hour will begin at 6 PM and dinner at 7 PM. Reservations are required by October 13, 2009 and can to be made by contacting Dan Wilcox at 518-482-0262 or through our Contact Us Page. The cost is $30 per person.  Please make your check out to Veterans For Peace.  On the memo line please write awards dinner. Kindly mail your check to:

Dan Wilcox
280 S. Main Avenue
Albany, NY 12208

For complete information about the award,
honorees and evening, kindly continue scrolling down.

The Veterans For Peace, Chapter 10,
Tom Paine Winter Soldier Peace and Justice Award
 

On December 23, 1776 in the first of his Crisis Papers, Tom Paine wrote: 

“THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER" and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.”

The winter of 1776 was bleak; the going tough and no clear path to victory was seen. With their enlistments completed, many of the men who had joined in the summer were leaving the cause of freedom, peace and justice and returning home. They were the ‘summer soldiers’ and the ‘sunshine patriots.’ However the true patriots and visionaries, resolved in their determination, empowered by the light of truth; carried on in the pursuit of life, liberty and justice.

With the evolution of the Republic, “a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.” and foreseeing the possibility of its subsequent loss, the term Winter Soldier was born.  The Winter Soldier is any man or woman who stands firm in the face of great adversity in its many shapes and forms and works towards a peaceful and civil society; respecting the inalienable rights provided for in the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights. The recipients of the Tom Paine Winter Soldier Peace and Justice Award have worked tirelessly and nonviolently to end war and to develop a peaceful and civil society. There is no greater tyranny than the tyranny of war, no greater enemy of democracy and no larger threat to humanity.

For their exemplary, nonviolent and tireless efforts on behalf of Peace our recipients this year (October 15, 2009) are Ed Block, Trudy Quaif and Steve Wickham.

About our Honorees

Ed Bloch

Memorial Day Parade

May 25, 2009

Albany, NY

"At 85 years old, Ed Bloch continues to "fight the good fight."  Ed has worked tirelessly to promote peace.  For his efforts in World War II, Ed received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.  He continues to act on behalf of workers locally.  Ed is a former candiate for Congress running against then Congressman Gerald Solomon.  As Director of The Interfaith Alliance, the organization demands changes in public policy based on religious understanding.  Ed served in the USMC 1943- 46 as rifle platoon leader L and then K-3-7, 1st Marine Dvision on Okinawa and China. Ed Bloch is now a member of Veteran's for Peace and is coordinator fo NYS Council of Veteran's Organzations.  Married to Naomi Finkelstein the couple are the parents of four children."

Trudy Quaif

Delmar Vigil, 4 Corners

September 14, 2009

Trudy Quaif has been a dedicated peace activist and member of Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace since 2001 working tirelessly to end the wars in Irag and Afghanistan and  create world peace.  She has also worked with Women Against War, Peace Action, the Solidarity Committee and North East Peace and Justice Action Coalition along with many other Neighbors for Peace organizations. In July, she attended the National Assembly Peace Conference in Pittsburgh.

Trudy has organized buses to Washington and NYC to protest the wars and marched many miles in the streets.  She has organized many forums, discussion groups, films and speakers, in the Capital region and is often seen tabling at events or setting up the BNP store, which includes everything a peace activist could want, from bumper stickers to t-shirts and buttons.   In her spare time Trudy maintains the BNP website and sends out a weekly Peace email, notifying  members of coming peace and justice related events.Trudy has also vigiled for peace at the Four Corners in Delmar, just about every week for the past 6+ years. Her current favorite slogan for a peace sign:  "8 Years of War.  How Many More?"  She will continue this work as long as she can ...or there is an end to war and injustice.

Trudy, simply put, is one of the most dedicated and tirless peace activists in our community holding both our repect and affection for her dedicated work and friendly and easy going approach to this important work.

Steve Wickham

April 21, 2008

Guilderland Neighbors
For Peace

Fools For War
"Counter Demonstration"

Steve Wickham has provided support to the Veterans For Peace, Chapter 10, for a variety of projects and also provides support for the VFP Chapter 10 website.

Steve started his activism in February of 2006 after learning of, and subsequently watching, the movie Loose Change while listening to the Mike Malloy Radio Show.

The emotions evoked from what he learned from that film coupled with the environmental information his younger sister had been feeding him, triggered him to go to a seminar on Global Warming at SUNY Albany. At that fateful seminar he met his 2 new adopted sisters in activism, Trudy Quaif and Wendy Dwyer.

Trudy and Wendy introduced Steve and his wife Barbara to a whole new community in the Capital District that they didn’t know existed, the Capital District Peace Community, of which the Veterans For Peace are a huge part.

Steve’s participation in the Peace Community was first noticed when he assisted in bringing the makers of the Loose Change Film to the Capital District for a standing room only screening of the film with the Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace. Coverage the event made the front page of both the Times Union and Metroland Newspapers.

Steve later assisted in helping to organize the Remembering the Fallen 4th and 5th Anniversary Events of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq. The event for the 4th anniversary was the largest anti-war event in the Capital District since Viet Nam.

Steve has assisted as well in the promotion of the last 2 Kateri Peace Conferences, the organization and promotion of the 2008 Peace and Sustainability Conference, and is currently assisting in the organizing and promotion of the October 17th, 2009 Capital District March Against the Escalation and Continued Occupation of Afghanistan.

During the past year, Steve has focused efforts at bringing together members of the Peace Community with members of the local Democratic Party and vice-versa so that there are better lines of communication between the two.

Steve is currently a Board Member of the Guilderland Neighbors for Peace, Committee Person for the Guilderland Democratic Party, and sits on the Town of Guilderland Environmental Conservation Advisory Council.

Steve graduated from Sidney HS with Honors, Ithaca College with a B.S. in Chemistry Summa Cum Laude, and has Masters in Chemistry from University of California at Berkeley.

He lives in Guilderland with his wonderful wife Barbara and their peaceful 6 year old cat Oliver. Barbara and Steve own a company called Wickwood Marketing, in which Steve works full-time from home.

Steel Street Rose

Steel Street Rose is one of the newest bands to grow out of the Capital District Music scene, though various members have been part of it for decades. Lead singer Cindy Hoffman's eclectic singing style brings raw emotion and powerful feeling to songs as diverse as contemporary country hits as performed by The Dixie Chicks and Sugarland; to classic rock and roll standards by bands such as the Beatles, Byrds and CCR... ; then again bringing the poignant ballads of Melissa Etheridge, Tracy Chapman and Bonnie Raitt to a new life.

David Pallas is one of the hardest working bassists of the area, known in such bands as Acoustic Hartland, The Fearsome Critturs and Swing Shift. Guitarist Roger Allen, formerly of "Three Quarter North" and "Roger and Me" plays electric and acoustic six and twelve string guitars in many different stylings. Newest member Chris Wagner on the drum kit brings a smooth professional polish, exuberance and a rock solid backbeat to the band.

To listen to Steel Street Rose is to experience what the name exemplifies: A rivetingly vivid trip through the memories, dreams and promises that Rock, Country and the Blues brought to the music of the 70's, 80's, 90's, and now the first decade of this new millenium.

Evans Public House