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Regional News

By Brian Adams, Skip Roberts, Ralph Yehle, and Jon Birch

1.The Colorado Winter Soldier Investigation (June 19 & 20) was a mixed success. Forty vets testified at the Denver Indian Center during the two day hearings. The testimony was received by a number of major figures in the Colorado Peace Community, including: Craig Barnes, of Common Cause Colorado; Bishop Marving Stuart, of the Rocky Mountain Conference (Methodist); and Professor Ved Nanda, who teaches International Law at Denver University. Attendance was disappointing - between 200 and 300 per day-but the press covered the proceedings fairly well. There will be an attempt to have the 16 hours of testimony read into the Congressional Record.

2. V.V.A.W. actively participated in the Colorado Campaign to Set the Date, helping with the collection of 10,000 signatures on petitions demanding that Congressmen from Colorado support the Nedzi-Whelan & Hatfield-McGovern Acts. One Congressman (Evans), did switch to a peace vote. All the others remained war-advocates. The initiation of recall procedures is being considered.
By Brian Adams

Georgia - Alabama - Florida

The Regional Convention of the Georgia, Alabama and Florida chapter of the VVAW will take place on Sept. 4-5-6, 1971, the Labor Day Weekend in Gainsville, Fla.

The four day camp-out-workshop will take place on a private 400 acre farm. Bring tents, and food. Shower and latrine facilities will be available. Presently a swim site is being sought. Bring your families, etc.. It is also requested that you bring along any photographs/slides of the "Nam", as well as your DD-214's. Any and all Vets are invited. For further information contact Scott Camil, Gainsville, Fla., telephone 904-378-0774. Washington, D.C.

Interim Regional Coordinator Tim Butz announced the opening of the new D.C. City Office at 2312 19th Street, N.W. -To coordinate activities in the metropolitan area.

A separate Congressional Laison Office at 47 Ivy Street, S.E. has opened. An effort will be made concerning all legislative activities and political moves in the government on foreign policy and vets affairs. (Already VVAW has spoken in favor of the new proposed GI Bill of Rights, and the Vets Unemployment Compensation). A regular legislative/government affairs listening post will appear from now on. Butz also announced the opening of a Baltimore storefront under Maryland State Coordinator Gerry Quinn at 1049 Riverside Avenue. A regional newsletter has gone out this week and plans are being made for fall regional actions. By Skip Roberts

MILWAUKEE

The Common Council of the City of Milwaukee has granted a parade permit to V.V.A.W. for Labor Day, September 6, 1971.

The theme for the parade is to be Peace and Solidarity. Registration of units will be in advance, granted to all those within the confines of the above themes.

The parade is to start at 2:00pm on a route from 15th Street on Wisconsin Ave. east to Cass St. (the same route as Milwaukee's Fourth of July Circus Parade).

Veterans will be gathering in Milwaukee, September 3rd through the 6th. They will camp in the city and organize guerilla theatre the Saturday and Sunday before the parade on Monday the 6th.

For reservations of more information write V.V.A.W., 3207 N. Hackett Ave., Milwaukee, Wis., 53211; or call Ann Bailey at 414-562-9371; Jim Boone at 414-271-6686; or Daryl Eigon at 414-272-8663. Peace and Solidarity.
By Ralph Yehle

CAPE COD

VVAW Cape Cod Branch had parade and Celebration of Life on the Fifth of July in Hyannis.

A group of vets in Centerville, Mass. decided to have their own parade on Memorial Day which resulted in 13 brothers arrested. So, after getting out of jail, they decided to enter the regular July 4th parade, annually held in Hyannis.

In a short time and with the help of Boston VVAW, the "Centerville 13" built a simple float which symbolized their feelings.

The float consisted three cages on a borrowed flatbed. The first cage contained a GI in jungle terrain with a set of works as big as the Empire State Building stuck in his arm, to symbolize heroin addiction in the 'Nam. In the second cage was a taxpayer sitting in his garden with his attache case and empty pockets (it took two days to find a straight vet). In the third cage was the ultimate victim, a Vietnamese peasant. The float and parade permit were okayed, and the parade went on, out of 35 floats from various groups such as VFW, A.L., and the Elks, VVAW was in the center. They kicked off with about 150 vets and supporters, marching through the streets of Hyannis shouting: "Bring 'em Home, Bring Our Brothers Home". In which it drowned out the martial music, as it was picked up by a most warm, receptive crowd. By the end of the parade, more than 300 people had joined the march by our float. The float took 3rd place, and VVAW received a nice little shiny cup. Afterwards, since most brothers like to party, a beach in Hyannis reserved for Veterans, was liberated by VVAW for all the people. And kegs of beer (Heineken of course), were donated, four cases of Boones' Farm Apple Wine, and loads of other good food. The party began at 1:3-pm on July 5th, and broke up at 8pm, July 6th with a rock concert in Centerville. No coverage in the papers.

"PHILIDELPHIA HAPPENINGS"

ITEM: Vets and active-duty brothers and sisters have viable organizations going at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital (starting a new coffee house set-up and organized by the active duty brothers); at the Valley Forge Hospital; and at the Naval Base. The Hospital Underground has organized twice monthly picnics across the street from the hospital, in full view of the hospital administration, despite considerable harassment from the gate-guards.

ITEM: VVAW in Philly has become increasingly involved in military counseling.

ITEM: On the recent trip to K.C. while in that freedom-loving state of Ohio, we were tailed by the cops for approximately 20 miles with marked and unmarked cars (also aircraft). We were pulled over and low and behold there were several people in civilian clothes claiming to be state troopers. Upon being asked for ID's, they backed off - J. Edgar Swoop's boys, maybe?

ITEM: Fantastic response from people around St. Louis while we were stuck at the side of the road for 22 hours on the outskirts of the city. Many stopped and offered food, or beer, or wine when they saw VVAW on the side the the Pennsylvania bus.

ITEM: From September 8th thru 12th, Pennsylvania VVAW is planning Operation Keystone - a march from around the state to Harrisburg, the state capitol. Operations like RAW will hit much of the state which has not contact with VVAW or the war. There will be building Vietnamese villages from straw and burning them within sight of the state capitol. There will also be lobbying for the Berson Bill (similar to the Massachusetts bill to prohibit Pennsylvania residents going to undeclared war) and lots of guerilla theatre. It will be primarily a state affair but others are welcome and invited to truck with us thru the beautiful Pennsylvania countryside.
By Jon Birch