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The Button

By Bill Shunas

Chicago. Taking a bus. I had to change buses which meant crossing the street. As I walked up to the corner a cop car came from behind me, turned the corner in front of me and slammed on the brakes.

The cop in the passenger seat rolled down his window and said, "I see you're Vietnam Veterans Against the War." When they turned that corner they had about a second and a half to look at me, look at the VVAW button and react as they did.

I assured them that I was, and to be polite I enquired as to their knowledge of the organization. "Oh we know about VVAW," he said with a knowing nod of his head. Then he said something about meeting in the future, and he rolled up the window, and they drove off. - Fight the power.

Chicago. After a chapter meeting Ron and I went down the street to this bar where we decided to shoot some pool. The bar had two pool tables, and they were situated in such a way that meant for certain shots you could be in the way of someone at the other table who was in this same spot. It so happened that a young man at the other table arrived at this spot when I did. I told him to go ahead and shoot. He looked at me for a moment, then looked down at the button on my shirt, looked at me and said, "You've got an army behind you that you don't even know about." With that he turned around took his shot and continued with his game. - Feel the power.

DC. It was after some demonstration. Don't remember the details. I was wandering around the Mall, and I came upon two tourists. The man happened to look at the button. "Vietnam," he said.

"Yes," I said, and he spoke to me in French which I did not understand. With gestures I indicated my lack of understanding.

He stated, "No English." For a moment we stood there confused, and then he touched both hands to my chest and said, "Vietnam." Then he touched both hands to his own chest and said, "Algerie." And there was a tear in his eye.

We hugged and shook hands and wished each other well in our own languages and shrugged our shoulders at not having further understanding and said goodbye. - Power to the people.

Bill Shunas is a Vietnam veteran, author and VVAW member in the Chicago chapter.