Veterans For Peace Answer Critics of Memorials and Vigils

For Immediate Release
Veterans For Peace

NEWS ADVISORY CONTACT: David Cline (201) 876-0430
September 27, 2006 Michael T. McPhearson (314) 303 – 8874

Veterans For Peace Answer Critics of Memorials and Vigils

Who: Veterans For Peace, a national organization of military veterans including men and women from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, other conflicts and “peacetime.”

What: Address critics of Vigils and Memorials held by members and chapters of Veterans For Peace

Vigils and Arlington Memorials are important and effective initiatives by local Veterans For Peace chapters. These memorials are conducted to make the consequences of war real and to allow people to express their grief, respect and thoughts. As a result of the power of these memorials and stance against war, Veterans For Peace has come under attack from some quarters, mostly by people who support the war in Iraq.

A number of Gold Star Families have accused Veterans For Peace of using the names of the Fallen to deliberately cause pain and suffering. The President of Veterans For Peace David Cline says, "When a few of the Fallen’s families began to contact us, our national board discussed it and set a policy including the family’s wishes. We have told our chapters that if Fallen family members objects to a name being used in one of our memorials or vigils, the name should be removed. Our purpose is not to cause grief to parents or spouses of dead soldiers."

Veterans For Peace does not concede the right to use the names of the Fallen. Executive Director Michael McPhearson stated, “When a service member dies the whole nation mourns. Our organization conducts memorials and vigils to honor the dead and remind the living of the cost of war. Our belief that the Bush administration has sent our service members to fight an illegal war does not diminish our respect or honor for those who fight and have fallen. However, some Gold Star Family members have asked us to discontinue the use of their loved one’s name. Our policy reflects their input.”

Veterans For Peace is a national organization founded in 1985. It is structured around a national office in Saint Louis, MO and comprised of members across the country organized in chapters or as at-large members. The organization includes men and women veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq war other, conflicts and peacetime veterans. Our collective experience tells us wars are easy to start and hard to stop and that those hurt are often the innocent. Thus, other means of problem solving are necessary.

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Veterans For Peace


VFP Memorials and Vigil Policy

VFP POLICY FOR ARLINGTON AND OTHER MEMORIALS TO THE FALLEN

Arlington Memorials are important and effective initiatives by local Veterans For Peace chapters. These memorials are conducted to make the consequences of war real and to allow people to express their grief, respect and thoughts. As a result of the power of these memorials and our stance against war, Veterans For Peace has come under attack from some quarters, mostly people who support the war in Iraq.



However, VFP has also received a few complaints from Gold Star family members. These wishes should be taken into consideration when conducting the Arlington Memorials, thus the following policy has been adopted by the National Board of Directors. The Directors request that all VFP chapters and affiliated memorials follow these guidelines for the use of the names of the fallen and recognition of the deaths of Iraqis and other victims of war.




POLICY: The names of the fallen are released by the Department of Defense and they are published weekly throughout the country as part of the public record. Several Veterans For Peace memorials and vigils list a number or all of the names of the fallen on name tags, or other means and post them on crosses, tombstones, boots or other items to represent those service members who have lost their lives in the occupation and war in Iraq. Veterans For Peace conducts these events to remember and honor those who have given their lives in their country's service, and to offer friends, relatives and those who served in the military with the deceased an opportunity to pay their respects.



If an immediate family member (mother, father or spouse) personally requests that we not post a person's name publicly, VFP chapters and members should (1) honor these requests and the name of the person should be kept on file, so that visitors wishing to honor that person may do so in a manner of their own choosing and (2) get this request in writing and contact the national office so that the information is given to all memorials affiliated with Veterans For Peace.



The Arlington's and other memorials are primarily in honor of fallen U.S. service members. However, in accordance with the mission of Veterans For Peace; to increase the public awareness of the cost of war and to seek justice for veterans and victims of war, it is equally important to remember the civilian lives lost. When possible, shoes, photographs or other appropriate images or symbols should accompany the memorials or vigils in remembrance of the Iraqi and other civilian deaths.



Adopted by the National Board of Directors September 22, 2006



NAMES: These are the names of the Fallen I have compiled that we have been requested by Gold Star Family members to no longer post. If you know of other names, please secure the request in writing and send to the National Office so that we may disseminate it the information.



SFC Robert Rooney – Army National Guard

SGT TJ Sutton - Army

CPT Christopher J. Kenny - Army

SGT Keith Lee Smette - Army

SSG Davin J Evans – Army

MAJ William F. Hecker III – Army

CPT Derek Argel – Air Force




Michael T. McPhearson
Veterans For Peace
Executive Director
314 725-6005

Peace: One step at a time.

"Sow Justice, Reap Peace -- Strategies for Moving Beyond War"
Veterans For Peace