November 2, 2009

A page has been added to our VFP website for the Good Soldier. Proctors is offering discounted tickets to Veterans, Seniors and students for just $4.00. VFP will provide free tickets to the first 100 high school students who go to Proctors and present a student identification card. If you will go to our home page you can also read about our veterans panel at Proctors after the 7:00 PM screening. Our next chapter meeting is November 16, 2009 at 7 PM in the VA Hospital. Hope you all can make it. We meet the third Monday of every month in the Ann Wilson lounge, 4th floor at 7 PM.

Paz, John

October 26, 2009

As mentioned on the title page, The Good Soldier is playing at Proctors on November 11, 2009 and this is an exceptionally powerful and important movie. After seeing it, I wrote the following email, which I sent out to a few folks. It isn't the best writing but it was what I was feeling. Truly I hope you will come and see this movie and invite others. Also continue reading below. Thanks.

October 20, 2009 
 
 Our monthly meeting was well attended including Hervie H., Bob A., Lou S.
 and Lou I., Ed Bloch, Frank H., Lloyd H. and John A. There was a great
 deal to discuss including the Saturday rally at the Capital against the
 Empire's wars, including Afghanistan and Iraq. VFP
 had a very good turnout and led the march through Albany. On November
 11, 2009, "The Good Soldier" will be screened at Proctor's Theater in
 Schenectady, followed by Q&A with a veteran's panel. Ed Bloch,
 Frank Houde and John Amidon have been selected for the panel and others
 will be added. We will work hard to make this a successful event and
 encourage VFP members and the entire peace community to attend.  More
 information will be posted soon.  We also discussed the Veteran's Day
 parade and as soon as we have parade orders, the details will be
 posted. Kathy Kelly will be marching with us this year so hopefully
 everyone will turn out and make it a truly special event. Frank Houde
 and I will also be leading a discussion after the film, "Soldiers of
 Conscience" on November 10th, 6:45 PM at the Bethlehem Public Library
 presented by BNP. Our chapter also will take an add in the MLK
 celebration program joining with other peace groups in our community.
 VFP is also part of the Sanctuary for Independent Media Event on
 November 11th.  The awards dinner was discussed and everyone had a
 great time and thought it was an exceptional gathering.  Many of us
 would like to do it again next year.  

October 17, 2009

Our next VFP meeting is November 19, Monday, 7 PM at the VA Hospital, 4th Floor, Ann Wilson Lounge. Hope you can make it. The awards dinner was great fun and I have posted  an update under the awards dinner section. Today we are headed to the rally at the Capital. End the war now!

October 12, 2009

Our next VFP meeting is November 19, Monday, 7 PM at the VA Hospital, 4th Floor, Ann Wilson Lounge. Hope you can make it.

We expect to have 60 to 70 people at our awards dinner. We are pleased and excited with the turnout and the event as a whole. It is going to be  a fun time for the peace community. It is still not to late to sign up. Please give Dan a call at 482-0262.

October 4, 2009

Dinner planning is coming along well. We now need to call our friends and neighbors to insure a good turn out for our awards dinner and party. October 15 at Evans Public House is going to be a great time. Please attend. See the Tom Paine Awards Dinner section for complete information.

Our Open Letter and Call to Conscience to the Soldiers of Ft. Huachuca, see below, from Veterans For Peace (VFP) Tucson and Southwest Witness is in November 15th edition of the Arizona Daily Wildcat in Tucson, AZ.

Our Open Letter and Call to Conscience to the Soldiers at Ft. Drum, see below, was published on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2007 in the Watertown Daily Times, Watertown, NY, on the last page of the first section.

There are many ways all of us can work to end the occupation of Iraq. Each is a step along the way. Here we offer five suggestions. To find more suggestions you might also Google 10 ways to end the war in Iraq and read some of the many other ideas and actions offered.

Our Open Letter and Call to Conscience to the Soldiers of Ft. Huachuca, see below, is a message of hope and concern; an affirmation that Veteran's from all of the recent wars and all walks of life, support our troops and are working diligently to bring them home as quickly and as safely as possible. We strongly prefer to honor Veterans on Veterans Day rather then remember them on Memorial Day.