November, 10 2008, 02:29pm EDT
![Veterans for Peace](https://assets.rbl.ms/32012656/origin.jpg)
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Michael T. McPhearson, 314 303-8874
Elliott Adams, 518 284-2048
Veteran's Day: Keeping Faith With The Original Intent of Armistice Day
A veterans' organization ask the nation to remember the original intent of Veterans Day.
The
original Armistice Day ended World War I on November 11, 1918, but not
before nearly 30 million soldiers had been killed or wounded, and over
seven million taken prisoner.
WASHINGTON
A veterans' organization ask the nation to remember the original intent of Veterans Day.
The
original Armistice Day ended World War I on November 11, 1918, but not
before nearly 30 million soldiers had been killed or wounded, and over
seven million taken prisoner.
Congress responded to a universal hope that this would never happen again and passed a resolution calling for "...exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding...inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches...with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples." Congress later resolved November 11 was to be "...a day dedicated to the cause of world peace."
Of
the many veterans' organizations in the U.S., one exists specifically
to carry out the original purpose of Armistice Day, now celebrated
as Veterans' Day. In word as well as action, Veterans For Peace, a national organization with 120 chapters, is dedicated to the cause of peace.
"Unfortunately
Veterans Day has turned into a day to support war rather than a day to
reflect on the horrors of war and the need to work for peace," said
Veterans For peace Executive Director Michael McPhearson. "Veterans For
Peace has over 120 chapters around the country, many of whom will be
commemorating veterans day by marching in traditional parades,
conducting solemn ceremonies and vigils to give an alternative view
about war and the meaning of the day," McPhearson went on to say.
"Our statement of purpose is clear and direct when it says we intend to 'abolish war as an instrument of national policy.' We want this generation of veterans to be the last," said VFP president Elliott Adams.
The
former Army paratrooper and Viet Nam veteran added, "We not only speak
out for peace, our organization works towards it every single day. We
will continue to do so and in fact increase our efforts as VFP seeks to
raise awareness of the human and monetary cost of war in the face of
the global economic crisis."
Please visit www.veteransforpeace.org to learn more about VFP Veterans Day activities.
Veterans For Peace is a global organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices. We inform the public of the true causes of war and the enormous costs of wars, with an obligation to heal the wounds of wars. Our network is comprised of over 140 chapters worldwide whose work includes: educating the public, advocating for a dismantling of the war economy, providing services that assist veterans and victims of war, and most significantly, working to end all wars.
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