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Vets' Day Action Hit Phony Honor

By VVAW

WE DON'T NEED HONOR, JUST A DECENT LIFE!

Veterans Day demonstrations were again held by VVAW chapters across the country, marking the eighth year that VVAW has taken on the system on the day set aside to "honor vets." As in the past several years, VVAW raised the slogan, "To Hell With Your National Honor, We Won't Be Used Again!"

In San Francisco, traditional vets organizations such as the American Legion and VFW did not even hold their usual ceremonies for fear of again being confronted by VVAW. They cited "lack of funds" as their reason, but VVAW has consistently built demonstrations without funds—except for money out of the pockets of the vets themselves. In face VVAW has held demonstrations in the Bay Area since 1971, consistently building greater and greater support for the real plight of vets unlike the phony call to "honor vets" or build support for wars, whether in Indochina (when VVAW first marched on Vets Day) or, as happened last year, when the Legion tried to drum up support for their reactionary position on "our" Canal in Panama.

In the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St Paul, VVAW went to the local American Legion/VFW event. As their ceremony was coming to and end, VVAW members rose, demanding that VVAW be allowed to speak in order to represent the real situation among vets today. With support from the audience, made up primarily of older vets, VVAW got up and talked to the crown, hitting at the phony "day" set aside for vets. They brought up the question of Agent Orange and how vets were dying as a result of exposure to the defoliant—and were getting no help at all from the Veterans Administration. They also took on the leadership of the Legion and VFW for siding with the rich and pushing their wars. At the close of the speech, VVAW members were met with applause and even requests from Legion and VFW Posts to speak to their membership and show a CBS special film on Agent Orange and "Only The Beginning," a film based on the experience of vets in Vietnam and the fight against the war back here in the U.S. Once again VVAW found out that through the leaders of the Legion and VFW back the system to the hilt, the membership, the rank and file of these organizations, share with Vietnam vets many of the same problems, and are deeply concerned about solutions which apply to vets of all eras.

In Milwaukee VVAW held a demonstration near the official ceremonies, held at the Woods National Veterans Cemetery. As a representative of VVAW spoke, some of the traditional leaders shouted, "Shut up you commies," and "Go home you bums." Meanwhile, others shook their heads and said, "Ah leave them to talk." And talk they did, saying "There is no honor in being cannon fodder in a rich man's war—the hell with your national honor. If we have our way about, this would be the last generation even to have a Vets Day."

In Chicago VVAW marched on the official ceremony, holding one of their own. Kept from the Legion-sponsored ceremony by the police, VVAW marched to the "Eternal Flame" after the Legion and VFW had left a red, white and blue wreath there. Instead, VVAW placed an orange wreath with the slogan, "We Won't Forget, We Won't Forgive," pointing directly at the system which says it will "honor" vets, but which will do nothing to treat vets exposed to Agent Orange. At the close of their ceremony, VVAW joined in a demonstration sponsored by Iranian students protesting the vicious regime of the Shah of Iran and U.S. involvement there, chanting "Death to the Shah," and "US. Out of Iran!"

In New York City, VVAW and the New York City Community College Veterans Clubs united to build for the day. More than 40 people, including several women vets marched behind a banner proclaiming "We Won't Be Used Again!" along with the demands centering on testing and treatment for Agent Orange, against V.A. red tape, and no cuts in medical care. The vets marched from the war memorial at Madison Square to Herald Square where Gimbels and Maceys were holding special "Veterans' Day Sales." At the Square vets from VVAW as well as NYCC, Brooklyn and Queens colleges spoke. A gold Star mother also spoke pointing out that her son had died in vain in Vietnam, fighting a war for the profit of the rich and voicing her support for the fight of vets today to secure a decent life.

There was a time when only vets organizations that pushed "patriotism," Americanism and support for wars could be heard on Veterans Day—that was the purpose behind the day in the first place. But that time no longer exists. Veterans themselves are standing up to be heard. They are pushing aside leaders and organizations that paint a rosy of either war or of the way that vets live today. This Veterans Day is both a reminder of the past as well as a testament to the future.

DIFFERENT CADENCE

The following songs and chants were used around the country on Veterans Day by VVAW chapters, marching to a different cadence!

Oh there they go,
   They're at it again,
Preparing for
   Their next big war;
They make us fight,
   For their rich sums
While people here
   Must live in slums.
To honor vets
   This day is for,
That's why they cut
   Our benefits more.
Oh profit is
   Their holy word,
They kill us all
   To make some more.
The moral of
   The story is:
Let's fight the rich
   Don't fight their wars!

It's the same all over the land,
(It's the same all over the land)
Jobs or Income's our demand.
(Jobs or Income's our demand)

(refrain)

Am I right or wrong?
(You're right!)
Are we weak or strong?
(We're strong!)
Are we movin' on?
(Right on!)
Keep on keepin' on.
(Keep on!)

Unemployment, it ain't funny,
We need jobs and we need money.