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25th Anniversary

By Dave Kettenhofen

Dave Kettenhofen, National Coordinator

VVAW members, friends, and supporters from around the world gathered in New York City on May 29, 30, and 31 to celebrate VVAW's 25th Anniversary.

The weekend wasn't all fun and games though. Earlier on Saturday morning a memorial service honoring the dead of all nations resulting from U.S. military involvement in Southeast Asia, Central America, and the Middle East was held at the Vietnam Memorial. This was followed by a short march to Battery Park for a rally reaffirming VVAW's commitment to the struggle against injustice. Discussions on VVAW's legacy, the peace movement, and personal, political, and spiritual growth closed out the weekend on Sunday.

The organizing committee has put together a journal that poignantly captures the spirit of VVAW's 25 years. It is a short but comprehensive look at its history through photographs, essays, and poetry. The journal is a real gem, a collector's item!

Concern for peace and justice formed a common bond among the wide array of people assembled for the anniversary. With the power brokers in this country flexing their muscles and goose stepping, it was reassuring to be in the company of so many who haven't bough their line.

Now, more than ever, there is a need to teach the lessons learned from past experiences. The American people are constantly bombarded with lies and propaganda. History is being rewritten to make it appear as through the U.S. was the victim in Vietnam. Veterans are living in the streets and dying from Agent Orange poisoning, AIDS, and neglect, while the media pretends that we have all been happily assimilated into the middle class. The U.S. continues to wage political and economic war on Vietnam while propagating the POW/MIA myth and propping up the Khmer Rouge.

Bush sold the Persian Gulf War, New World Order, and "might is right" line byt VVAW didn't buy it. Extremists on the religious right relentlessly attack America's civil rights and freedoms under the guise of morality while its children are starving for food and healthcare and their parents for jobs.

The list is endless and of course VVAW doesn't purport to have all the solutions. We can, however, continue to act as a source of rich experience which will strengthen the whole movement for peace and justice.

The cast of characters assembled at the 25th Anniversary was very impressive to say the least. The combined knowledge, experience, and talent was unbelievable. These talents, effectively employed at the grassroots level, can have a significant impact on the future of this country. The real message of the anniversary was up in VVAW and fight on!