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The Fight For The Living: Vets' Day Actions

By VVAW

VVAW's Veterans Day Activities were not confined to the National Salute in Washington, DC. Actions took place in a number of cities—some places where a VVAW action on Vets Day has become part of the local tradition. Even more important were the cities where VVAW activities on Veterans Day have not been seen for a number of years.

SAN ANTONIO,TX

In San Antonio, VVAW participated (!) in the traditional parade, on an official basis, for the first time. As regional coordinator Tom Wetzler reports, "Vets Day was a success for us. A few new members (10) and there was good local TV coverage of our banner/issues. A heavy equipment company donated two jeeps for our use and that greatly helped our visibility. It seems that people who hold the parade were forced, as a result of our strong stand last year, to admit us this year. There was also much support by rank and file members of old vets groups for including us if not support for our views. The reaction of the crowd was good, overall, and an interesting "before and after" effect occurred with our group appearing behind a Jr ROTC marching unit."

ATHENS, GA

In Athens, Georgia, the VVAW Chapter split is energy between the local and national activities. Maintaining a significant presence in Athens during local Veterans Day activities, the chapter still made it to DC for the National Salute.

Before leaving for Washington, Athens VVAW under the leadership of regional coordinator Elton Manzione staffed an information table in downtown Athens. A petition calling for acknowledgement of VVAW demands around Testing, Treatment and Compensation for Agent Orange exposure, as well as Jobs, the need to Save the Vets Centers, and No More Vietnams accumulated over 700 signatures. Athens also held two showings of the film "Only the Beginning" which reached another 100 interested persons. Over 100 people met and spoke with VVAW members during the activities.

Like the experiences of other VVAW chapters nationwide, Athens VVAW had previously been denied participation in the traditional parade on Vets Day. However, posed to march anyway on a street corner, VVAW Athens was invited to "join in" by the American Legion Commander whose contingent was passing by. Join in they did and were met by cheers of recognition along the remainder of the parade route.

VVAW Athens has maintained the momentum generated from the whole week and is currently strengthening ties in the region, especially with VVAW of North Carolina.

Material from Athens VVAW

LANSING, MI

On November 11, 1982, traditional vets organization and Michigan's Commanders Group made an attempt to honor Vietnam veterans at a dedication ceremony for a "Multi-Conflict" Memorial in Lansing. However, the Lansing Chapter of VVAW was there to remind the traditionals and the American public that the country's obligation to Vietnam vets has not been fulfilled by the construction of a useless multi-conflict memorial.

VVAW made it clear that the real need of Vietnam vets must come in the form of Test, Treat and Compensate Agent Orange Victims, Save Our Vets Centers, and No More Vietnams. Lee Channing from the VVAW National Office made it quite clear during a morning press conference that we do not need placebos but effective programs which will benefit the veterans' community.

The action was a major victory for VVAW in Lansing and the combined efforts of 15 participants made our demands well known. The main issues surrounding our action evolved around not being able to speak at the ceremony and the fact that the Commanders Group so blatantly excluded all Vietnam vets from the ground-breaking ceremonies for the Memorial. Our picket line and press interviews made it clear that we were not happy with the type of alienation from community activities and, needless to say, the Commanders Group was not happy wit our presence. But, of all the vets groups that attended the dedication, VVAW had the most impact on the community, proved by the excellent press coverage we received.

Paul Ray Jensen
Lansing VVAW

MILWAUKEE, WI

In Milwaukee, VVAW focused activities on a five-day effort directed toward enrolling participants in the class-action suit against the manufacturers of Agent Orange. The week was highlighted by the presence of Maude DeVictor, "the mother of Agent Orange." (Maude was the VA worker who first talked publicly about vets suffering from exposure to the defoliant.) The five days worth of activity were a success not only because of the veterans who signed up for the Agent Orange suit, but because of the public exposure which came as a part of the actions.