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March and Conference: Vets Demand Action in D.C.

By VVAW

"Operation Red, White & Blind," VVAW's latest action in Washington, DC around Agent Orange was an overwhelming success.

VVAW joined forces with brothers from the National Association of Black Veterans to attend the 1st National Veterans Conference on Agent Orange, and to protest the government's refusal to acknowledge the lingering effects of Agent Orange on Vietnam veterans.

A Contingent of 22 vets and families from Milwaukee and Madison got off a bus (after a 21 hour trip) to leaflet La Fayette Park and picket the Central VA offices in DC. Chanting and calling cadence, flanked by reporters and TV cameras, we reminded our government of their duty to "honor those who have borne the battle and his widow and his orphans," the theoretical purpose of the VA. We were greeted by riot police, locked doors and swat teams with snipers on the roofs surrounding the VA offices.

Our picket line was strengthened by brothers from New Jersey, Florida, New York, and California. Several Washington residents joined in, chanting and marching and offering their support. Despite hostile surrounding, the picket was peaceful. After an hour we marched away, past the White House, still chanting and gathered in LaFayette Park. There VVAW and NABV held a rally to inform the public of the Agent Orange struggle and to talk about the upcoming National Veterans' Conference at American University.

The Conference, sponsored by the National Veterans Task Force on Agent Orange, was called to exchange ideas, inform veterans of successes and failures on local and national levels, and to discuss outreach programs and lobbying efforts to get action on Agent Orange.

Veterans from all parts of the country participated in the three-day meeting which included a scientific panel and discussion with Dr. Jeanne Stellman of Columbia University and Dr. Steven Stellman of the American Cancer Society, both longtime advocates of testing and treatment for Agent Orange victims.

Dr James Dwyer, Department of Psychology from the State University of New York, and several other noted physicians and psychologists attended and shared the veterans' concerns.

A panel on the lawsuits against the chemical companies included representatives of Yannaconne & Associates of New York and others, as well as a group of veterans advocates who discussed government policies and legislation pending in Congress and the Senate.

Small group workshops continued throughout the Conference and included films, local outreach programs, discussions on pending state and federal legislation, and help in mobilizing vets and community members in the Agent Orange movement.

The Conference was outwardly ignored by the VA, but around the country, directives were sent to local offices instructing VA personal to boycott the meetings. Several VA workers did attend on their own; physicians, nurses and psychiatric personnel spoke with vets individually and in workshops, offering their support and their continued efforts to promote positive changes within the VA.

VVAW's presence and leadership was hailed by the organizers of the Conference as well as the rank and file vets of the Task Force. During the course of the three-day conference VVAW attracted scores of new members and two new chapters. As in past, our ability to organize on all fronts—in legislative, outreach and mass action—united and strengthened the national veterans movement. We welcome our brothers and sisters to the ranks of VVAW.

The Conference culminated in a private emotional memorial service on the grounds of the American University. Song, poetry and love brought forth solemn voices, adding names of war dead to the endless list...tom Wilson..Gary Dorn..Phil Knoke...Dave Schme...2 children of Rob and Marion Thielbar..the babies of Jeanette and Mike Mullane...the babies...the babies...

Veterans, wives and supporters shared their successes and their sorrow; the brotherhood was again solidified.

A group of 200 carried their grief and their strength and determination to Arlington National Cemetery to share with brothers buried there, and with the nation.

A silent march to the gates, with a wreath of orange, white and blue flowers dedicated to Agent Orange victims was blocked by guards in riot gear. To gain entry, we were told, we would have to remove our orange armbands and ribbons, and replace our wreath with one of red, white & blue.

Many in the crowd flashed back to Dewey Canyon III in 1971 where recently returned Vietnam veterans and Gold Star mothers were barred from Arlington. Then, as now, veterans, still on the outside, offered silently their kneeling, raised fist salutes to the fallen brothers inside the gates. The irony of the situation weighed heavily on many as veterans knelt at the gates, unwelcome while the people who sent them off to war rolled through unchallenged in tour busses.

The unity and strength shared by those who assembled at Arlington will be carried home to brothers and sisters across the country, and will add to the promise to return to DC for VVAW's Dewey Canyon IV in May of 1982. The spirit is reflected in a vow spoken by one vet and felt by all: "We will not be locked out of our cemetery away from our brothers again—nor will we be locked out of this nation's history."

On to Dewey Canyon IV!