Veterans for Peace March

[Guest Elliott Adams]

In traditional march cadence, U.S. military veterans will chant that statement on the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, as they lead a Veterans March for Peace to significant sites in Washington, DC, including the National Archives, home of the U.S. Constitution. There, veterans will conduct an action of “civil resistance” – issuing citizen arrest warrants for George Bush and Dick Cheney for multiple violations of the Constitution and international war crimes.

 

On Wednesday, March 19, members of Veterans For Peace (VFP) will gather on the National Mall, at 9:00 am, on 7th St., between Madison and Jefferson for a brief rally, followed by a silent march to the Museum of Native Americans, where Buffy St. Marie will join in a ceremony honoring the original inhabitants of the North American continent.

 

Army Col. (ret) Ann Wright, a VFP member, said “This war has cost too many lives and resources that should have been spent on health, education and other needs. The war must be stopped before more Iraqis and Americans are killed, and the sooner the better. Our military presence in Iraq must end so Iraqis can begin to rebuild their lives.”

 

The Peace March will continue to the Peace Monument on the grounds of the Capitol, where VFP members will confirm their Statement of Purpose which says in part: “We, having dutifully served our nation, do hereby affirm our greater responsibility to serve the cause of world peace. To this end we will work with others to increase public awareness of the costs of war...(and) to abolish war as an instrument of national policy.”

 

The National Archives, home of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution, will be the next stop. Here, veterans will retake their military oath, the key part of which is: “I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…”

 

VFP president, Elliott Adams, explaining why the veterans will then issue citizen arrest warrants for Bush and Cheney, said, “It has long been apparent that our Constitution is under attack and has been

deliberately and relentlessly undermined by domestic enemies -- indeed, by our highest government officials who took and have violated that same oath.”

 

The Peace March will terminate at McPherson Square across from the Veterans Administration Hospital where a field hospital will be set up to demonstrate the human cost of war and the grievances veterans have when they return home.

 

Founded in 1985, VFP is a national grassroots organization with over 100 chapters. Membership includes men and women veterans of all eras and duty stations spanning the Spanish Civil War, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq. VFP is an official Non Governmental Organization (NGO) represented at the UN.

 

For more information:

 

Elliott Adams 518-441-2697

Tarak Kauff 845-249-9489

Thomas Brinson 631-889-0203

Tony Teolis 703.402.1763