Uppity Wisconsin

Members of Veterans for Peace have again been barred from participation in Milwaukee's Veterans Day Parade.

Although the parade website says the event is “Honoring all Americans who have served,” it has refused to allow Veterans for Peace members – many of whom are combat veterans with Purple Hearts – from taking part in the observance on Saturday, Nov. 7.

The parade committee said Veterans for Peace is “a politically motivated group,” and therefore not welcome to be in the parade.

So much for “honoring all Americans who have served.”

Chapter 102 members (I am one) did not ask to participate in the parade to make a political statement, but to take our rightful place in the annual event saluting all who served our country in uniform.
 
Yet the committee, which finds us “political,” invites non-veteran politicians to the parade, and welcomes veterans groups which are outspoken in support of military action and war.

The committee’s reply, from Chairman David Drent, said,

“There is no doubt that your organization is a politically motivated group.  One visit to the organization’s website makes your views perfectly clear.

Last Saturday I was honored to participate in the Annual Vietnam Veteran Appreciation Gathering in Altoona. Veterans from around northern and western Wisconsin gathered to share camaraderie and memories. The day, sponsored by Thuy Smith and her husband Steve, was particularly special as we celebrated the creation of a new law to honor and remember Vietnam Veterans.

All who attended were invited to speak about their experiences. Listening to each other was an opportunity to share and to heal. As I listened, I learned the internet and DNA samples have become useful tools in finding fellow veterans, locating Amerasian children and finding those still missing or killed in action.

But mostly I learned making connections and telling stories can heal.

One veteran described how, upon his return home, his family was instructed to always change the subject when he brought up Vietnam. “They treated me like I was on a fishing trip,” he said. Years later, the man finally had the opportunity to share his experiences.

A new film, This Is Where We Take Our Stand from Displaced Films on Vimeo, tells the story of the 2008 Winter Soldier hearings, organized by Iraq Veterans Against the War to bring the testimony of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans directly to the public.  This is the third episode, entitled, "Why We Fight."

This is the street theatre protest that was one of many things that held me up during the morning.  Not the protest itself, but the gazillion police who were clearly trying to be as intimidating toward the Iraq Vets as possible.

Update: E-mails one veterans’ advocate, "The repercussions are pretty simple: VA managers can override any benefits decision that they don't want to pay. … Hey, why not confiscate all retroactive benefits from those older than 75 (65?) - they will die soon anyways."

An unofficial and apparently illegal U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) policy on granting veterans monetary benefits is drawing intense criticism in veteran advocates' and veteran attorneys' circles.

First reported in VA Watchdog by Larry Scott last year, the alleged policy puts a cap, in violation of U.S. Code, on large retroactive monetary sums granted to veterans.

Look here in the near future for updates and reporting on new developments.

Writes Larry Scott: