Download PDF of this full issue: v36n2.pdf (13.7 MB)

Memorial Day 2006, Chicago

By Ken Nielsen

This spring, VVAW's annual Memorial Day ceremony in Chicago was held in Chicago's new (disgracefully located) Vietnam Veterans Memorial, of which plenty was said in the last issue of the Veteran. Nevertheless, it was a successful event, with a wide range of speakers and attendees from diverse backgrounds. We were extremely fortunate to have among our presenters Cassie Elliot, an Iraq War veteran who served in Iraq for six months with the Marines. Longtime VVAW member Bill Davis also gave a very emotional speech that was well received. State representative Karen Yarborough, who sponsored the impeachment resolution in the Illinois house, appealed to the crowd to support her resolution. (Many thanks to Carl Nyberg, who coordinated the effort to get Representative Yarborough to attend the ceremony.) Code Pink was represented by Pat Hunt, who provided the crowd with an array of information about the counter-recruitment happening in Chicago-area high schools. A Hyde Park doctor and World War II veteran, Al Klinger, offered a long and engaging diatribe, concluding with one of his poems. VVAW member Cesar Ruvalcaba spoke about immigrants' rights. One of the most emotional and unplanned set of speakers was Iraq War veteran Dave Adams and Kosovo War veteran Adam Navarro. Adam and Dave both served in the 101st.

In what has become something of a tradition, VVAW's GI counselor, Ray Parrish, concluded the ceremony with a talk about the state of veterans' benefits and about groups organizing around the issues of returning Iraq War veterans. Ray had these stirring final words: "We've got to remember our veterans. That's what today's all about: memories, the memories we have of our war experiences. Just like Brother Klinger got done telling us today, those are with us forever. The war will never end for the veterans who were in that war. So don't worry. It's working. We are saving our veterans, one person at a time."

Bill Davis of VVAW at Memorial Day, Chicago

Rep. Karen Yarborough, Veterans Day 2005, Chicago

Ken Nielsen, Memorial Day 2006, Chicago