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Veterans' Day

By VVAW

TEST & TREAT AGENT ORANGE! NO DRAFT, NO WAR!

On November 8th, a typically cold, crisp day in Chicago, VVAW broke with tradition, of a sort, to commemorate Veterans Day, 1980. Chicago VVAW members joined a contingent from Milwaukee and Madison VVAW, Chicago Vets for Peace, representatives form the Veterans Leadership Conference, the Illinois Veterans Congress, the Illinois Vietnam Veterans Civic Council, and several chapters of the Midwest Coalition Against Registration and the Draft.

Bill Davis, Chairman-elect of the Illinois Vietnam Veterans Civic Council and a member of VVAW, spoke briefly about the general conditions facing Vietnam veterans and how, over the last half decade there has been no significant progress on major issues like employment, heath care, upgrading of benefits for Vietnam vets. He noted that in spite of promises and well intentioned "too little too late" programs, the Carter administration with its huge V.A. budget, continued the decline of veterans' services. Davis pointed out that, "in spite of the promises being made to vets by the incoming Reagan administration and assorted politicians, we've heard these songs before the tunes have all been sour." Davis also noted that little has been done to defuse the growing anger and frustration on the part of vets. "When we came back from 'Nam we had to go to the V.A. for what we needed. We raised hell about the conditions. We picketed, seized and held V.A. offices, and were continually burned and co-opted by the system. The older vets organizations characterized us as malcontents and crybabies. Within the next 10 to 15 years more and more older vets will be turning to the V.A. for help. The services we fought for—and which were declining then—just won't be there. Perhaps this time they'll join us on the picket lines."

Joan Maimon, Chairperson of the Veterans Leadership Conference read a statement about what the Reagan administration was promising vets. Paul Galvan, of Chicago's Loop College, read a statement with detailed specifics about Reagan's plans about Agent Orange, in particular a promised independent study on the problem.

The final speaker was Barry Romo from the VVAW National Office; he spoke with particular anger about Reagan's reference to Vietnam as a "noble experiment." Romo stated, "If Vietnam can be called a noble cause, which it wasn't, Vietnam vets certainly haven't been treated like nobility." He wet on to say, "Here we are faced with the possibility of a new draft and another war, and the same people who profited from the last one are ignoring the problems facing the vets who fought it. The people in this country aren't stupid. They won't want another generation to go through what we have."

The program at Chicago's Daley Plaza was officially closed as the son of a Chicago VVAW member and possible Agent Orange victim, placed a wreath at the Veterans Memorial, the Eternal Flame, not simply to commemorate the dead, but to point to the futility of man of their deaths and the continuing struggle of living vets.

"Traditional Vets Day"

The "traditional" Veterans Day in Chicago was, in most respects, the normal, drab and forgettable ceremony it always has been. Held during the middle of the week, the ceremony was missed by most vets who, even had they been interested, could not have attended. Dominated by the Legion and VFW, the program consisted primarily of their patting each other on the back, congratulating each other on the magnificent job they've done for vets.

Jane Bryne, Chicago's mayor, passed by an invitation to attend, choosing instead to dedicate a new "El" train stop which had more media value than this annual sleeper. She sent George Dunne, Chairman of the Cook Country Democrats, who poo-pahed, blah-blahed, and sat back down. Present on the stage was Roland Libonatti, former Congressman and confidant of Al Capone. As the Legion's legal type he has built a new career over the last decade keeping Vietnam vets and their organization out of the "official ceremonies." This year was probably his greatest moment: not only did no Vietnam nor Vietnam-era vets participate in the program but there were none in attendance! That's right" zero! With the exception of a couple of us to observe and report on the activities, no Vietnam vets attended. Someone reported that a person who resembled a 'Nam vet was there earlier but left—probably out of disgust.

We congratulate the program committee, also. When the rolls were read and heroics mentioned, Vietnam wasn't. In fact one could believe it didn't exist or had never occurred unless we had lived it—and continue to!

Aside from the idiot running around dressed like Uncle Sam and the morons selling Nazi and moral majority newspapers, the big thrill was watching the "precision" drill team from the Legion mill around trying to figure out direction to face, fire their M-1's in a ragged semblance of a salute, and watching the crowd flinch as these bozos swung their weapons in all directions desperately trying to clear and chamber another round.

It's just as well we Vietnam vets aren't welcome. Who the hell wants to be part of that kind of travesty anyway? We don't have any drill team. The cops would freak out if one Vietnam vet showed up anywhere with a weapon, much less an organized group. We don't need drill teams, fancy parades or bullshit programs. We need decent benefits, testing and treatment and compensation for victims of Agent Orange: we want a future for our kids without a draft and without their wars for profit at our expense.

WE NEVER FORGET, WE NEVER FORGIVE!