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Veterans Report!

By VVAW

News From Georgia

We participated in the October blockade of the Savannah River Nuclear Weapons plant and provided security for the overnight camp, the Saturday Really and the Women's Peace encampment on the SRP grounds. Elton Manzione was a featured speaker at the rally along with a member of the National Association of Atomic Veterans which helped to build some bridges between AO vets and Atomic vets. We gained one new member at the rally.

November 6th Elton was again a featured speaker at a Central America rally along with a former Marine pilot who is doing refugee work. Rally organizers were delighted with our presence as we both spoke when a counter group of college Republicans arrived to redbait—Silver Stars and DFC's are great credibility builders with 19-year-old patriots. The Marine pilot is a possible future members. Our latest actions have included counter tables on the plaza at the University of Georgia when the Marine recruiters are present, and an attempt to be allowed to distribute counter-recruiting literature at the Government Jobs Fair to be held at University of Georgia this month. (Wanna work for the CIA—join the Army or do code for NSA? This is the place!) We got one new member as a result of joining with the New York contingent in Washington on November 12th.

I'm planning a drive to get as many of my vet contacts in as dues paying members as possible. We're going to try to get them to ante up 6 months of dues, and since we can probably get 20 or 30, it would be a sizeable boost....

—Elton Manzione
Mid-Atlantic VVAW

Milwaukee Vets Day

The traditional Veterans Day Parade was held in Milwaukee on Sunday, November 6th. Since 1978 VVAW has marched as an official unit of the parade; prior to '78, we marched on the sidewalk flanked by police.

WE were joined by members of the Milwaukee Chapter of the GI Forum; we numbered 16 in all with our colors and banners: "U.S. Out of El Salvador, No More Vietnams," and "Test, Treat, Compensate Agent Orange." We also did our cadences: "Reagan, Reagan, he's no good; Send him back to Hollywood," and "Reagan, Reagan, he's a con, U.S. Out of Lebanon."

We were a good contrast to the M-60 tanks, a self-propelled 155mm howitzer, a combat forklift, and a sortie of A-4's overhead. The crowds liked us— we got a lot of applause. We also seemed to make all those lifers on the reviewing stand squirm a little.

Chicago Vets Day

The first time I went to a Veterans Day event I was in my mid-twenties. An assorted crowd of about 20 yokels and other loony types meandered (you couldn't possibly call it marching) down the street and assembled to listen to a churchman and other "prominent" types support every administration that ever came down the tubes with a war. Any war— you name it—they supported. The half dozen or so old guys, stuffing their beer bellies into threadbare uniforms were there to represent something, I guess. And they did represent something to me, but I don't think it was quite what they had had in mind. My God, I thought, is this it? Is this Veterans Day? Just another excuse to get together and support the rotten policies administration in DC?

After the boring speeches the crowd wandered off. I went home disgusted: veterans weren't served by Veterans Day, veterans issues weren't addressed; guys were starting to come home from Vietnam—they weren't represented there, and their problems, of which there were many, were not addressed. That day I was sure that I'd never go to another Veterans Say ever again.

But I did.

Chicago, 1983. In spite of a rocky start and much rushing around, and in spite of the windy, bone-chilling cold, Vets Day here was a great success.

The VVAW display and information booth was located in the Southwest corner inside Daley Plaza in the center on downtown Chicago. Many fine people stopped by for THE VETERAN, leaflets, VVAW's statement on Lebanon and Grenada, information about Agent Orange, or just to chat with one of the Chicago VVAW members at the information table. A list of about 60 new contacts was generated out of the four-day event.

ABC television interviewed Barry Romo of the VVAW National Office on Saturday morning in front of the display; he defined the VVAW position on Lebanon and Grenada, and pointed out the lack of concern shown by the Reagan administration for veterans in general and Vietnam vets in particular.

Saturday at 11 AM the ceremony began with Pete Zastrow making a short statement and introducing the speakers: Alderman Danny Davis, Father Bob Bosse, and Barry Romo. Approximately 55 people attended the ceremony, and all marched out to the Eternal Flame for a wreath-laying ceremony and moment of silence.

In 1984 look for VVAW's Veterans Day display again at Daley Plaza with the ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fountain.

Thanks to VVAW for showing me what Veterans Day can be.

—Virg McFadden
Chicago VVAW