"The Story of God", anti-war opera, Save the Date!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: 

"The Story of God", a comic, anti-war opera
Facebook event page: click here

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2012, 1:00 PM

It will be performed at the Cambridge Friends Meeting House
5 Longfellow Park, Cambridge (Off Brattle Street coming from Harvard Yard)

Directions: Take the T to Harvard Square, walk down Brattle Street to Longfellow Park.
Turn in Longfellow Park, Friends Meeting will be on the right.

The Story of God: A Comic Opera
By (the Smedley D. Butler Brigade of VFP's own) Severyn Bruyn
September 9, Sunday, 1:00pm
God (Played by Louise Bruyn)
Satan (Played by Severyn Bruyn)
Pianist: Steve Bass
Singers:
Messengers: Soprano, Jessica Trainor
Friend: Tenor, Brendon Quinn
Songs
1. Lao-tzu and Yinxi (Taoism)
2. Buddha and Ananda (Buddhism)
3. Job and Bildad (Judaism)
4. Jesus and Peter (Christianity)
5. Rumi and Shams (Islam, Sufism)
6. Gandhi and Hermann Kallenback (Hinduism)

Memorial Day for Peace: May 28

Photo from http://www.openmediaboston.org/node/1857

Please join Veterans For Peace, Smedley Butler Brigade, Chapter 9 and Samantha Smith, Chapter 45, Military Families Speak Out, Mass Peace Action, United for Justice with Peace as we commemorate Memorial Day on Monday, May 28, 2012, 1-3 p.m.  Facebook event page here.

Location: Christopher Columbus Park, 105 Atlantic Ave., Boston, Massachusetts
(near the Long Wharf Marriott on the waterfront - Aquarium stop on the MBTA Blue Line and a short walk from Haymarket on the Orange Line).
 
There will be no parade, no marching band, no military equipment, no guns and drums, no Air Force fly-overs.

There will be veterans and supporters who have lost friends and loved ones. Veterans who know the horrors of war and the pain and anguish of loss. There will be friends and families of soldiers, remembering their loved ones. There will be Iraqi Refugees who have suffered terrible losses and will join with us as we remember and show respect for their loss.

There will be flowers dropped into the harbor for each fallen U.S. soldier from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Flowers will also be also be dropped into the harbor remembering the loss of Iraqi family and friends.

PROGRAM
Memorial Day for Peace
May 28, 2012 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Christopher Columbus Park, 105 Atlantic Ave., Boston, Massachusetts

Brian Quirk, Scottish Bag Pipes
Merrimack Valley People for Peace

Rev. Lara Hoke, Opening
Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Andover
Secretary VFP, Smedley D. Butler Brigade

Pat Scanlon, Welcome
Coordinator, VFP, Smedley D. Butler Brigade

Lee VanderLann, In memory of our friend Capt. Paul Brailsford
Executive Committee VFP, Smedley D. Butler Brigade
VFP Samantha Smith Chapter

Bradford Adams, A short rememberance of my friend Zalmai
VFP, Smedley D. Butler Brigade
Afghanistan Veteran (2002-2003)

Kevin Lucey, Return to Hell
Parent of Cpl. Jeffrey Lucey USMC

Si Kahn, Song – Hunter –(Music from CD)

Bob Funke, What Memorial Day Means to Me
Smedley D. Butler Brigade

Bonnie Gorman, Suicide: The hidden wounds of war
Military Families Speak Out,
Gold Star Families Vietnam
VFP Smedley D. Butler Brigade

Nancy Wrenn, Are we finished with war yet?
Mass Peace Action

Webb Nichols, Poet
Smedley D. Butler Brigade

Ahmad & Leyla AlZubaydi
Babylon Restaurant, Lowell
Iraqi Refugees

Farouq Ali
Arab Spring and Hypocrisy of the West
Iraqi Refugee

Brian Quirk, Scottish Bag Pipes

Flower Ceremony

Rev. Ralph Galen, Closing
Community Church of Lawrence

Jesse Perrier, Taps
Executive Committee Smedley D. Butler Brigade

Latest flyer and parade route information: SAINT PATRICK'S PEACE PARADE

The St. Patrick's Peace Parade is THIS Sunday, March 18! We should have beautiful weather.

For the latest flyer, click here.  To see the Facebook event page, click here.

Latest assembly and parade route information:

Saint Patrick’s Peace Parade
For Peace. Equality, Jobs, Social & Economic Justice

Sunday, March 18, 2012
Start Time: 2:00 pm (assemble at 1 pm)
Start Location: D Street and West Broadway
Just three blocks east of the MBTA Redline Station
(Corner of Dorchester Ave. and West Broadway)
Look for Veterans For Peace Flags
End Location: Andrew MBTA Station(Corner of Dorchester Ave. and Dorchester Street)

The St. Patrick’s Peace Day Parade STARTS on D Street and will enter West Broadway (easterly), left onto East Broadway, Right onto “P” Street, Right onto “East 4th” Street, Left onto “K” Street, Right onto “East 5th” Street, Left onto “G” Street, Right onto the ‘Southerly Arm of Thomas Park’, Left onto “Telegraph” Street, Left onto “Dorchester Street” and ENDING at “Dorchester Avenue”.

We have a lot on D Street, across from Louis Street.

FROM points North via I-93:Take I-93 South to Exit 20A “South Station.” At the end of the ramp, take a left at signal, onto Summer Street at South Station. Follow Summer St. for approximately 1 mile, the Boston Convention Center will be on your right, D Street is just past the Convention Center. Make a ight and go up to Louis Street. The parking lot will be on your left, dirt lot with parked truck trailers.

FROM points South via I-93:Take I-93 North to Exit 20 "South Boston". Follow the signs to "I-90 East". Take the first tunnel exit to "South Boston". At the first set of lights, take a right onto Congress Street. Take the second right onto D Street. Continue on D Street, past the Convention on your right. Drive up D Street to Louis Street. The parking lot will be on your left, dirt lot with parked truck trailers.

Coming by the T:Take the Red Line to the Broadway T Station (South Boston) on the Red Line. Upon exiting the T Station walk four blocks east on West Broadway to D Street and make a left. The parade staging area is two short blocks from West Broadway. Look for VFP flags upon exiting the T station and along the way. People will be there to direct you.

St. Patrick's Peace Parade: Peoples Parade for Peace, Equality, Jobs, Social and Economic Justice

Join us!  Here's the link to the Facebook Event page.

Full name: Saint Patrick's Peace Parade: Peoples Parade for Peace, Equality, Jobs, Social and Economic Justice

When: Sunday March 18, 2012 (2 p.m.)

Where: South Boston, same route as the “official parade”

Please join Veterans For Peace and other peace and social justice organizations for this historic alternative “people’s parade” following the official Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.

Background: Again this year we were denied permission to walk in the “Official Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.”

This year, as last year, we will march immediately following the “official parade.” Our parade is a “people’s parade for peace and justice.” We invite all progressive groups (peace, environmental, women’s rights, civil rights, Occupy Boston, labor, LGBTQ, communities of faith/congregations, etc.) in the greater Boston area to please join us as we follow behind the official parade. Article from last year: click here.

Your tax dollars at war...

Your tax dollars at work war...

Final days of Occupy Boston...

Please watch this beautiful video of the final days of Occupy Boston.

A chilling video...

On the Dark Side in Al Doura - A Soldier in the Shadows from Pulse TV & Maverick Media on Vimeo.

From Vimeo site: "WARNING: Graphic and disturbing photos between 38:40 and 40:45.
U.S. Army Ranger John Needham, who was awarded two purple hearts and three medals for heroism, wrote to military authorities in 2007 reporting war crimes that he witnessed being committed by his own command and fellow soldiers in Al Doura, Iraq. His charges were supported by atrocity photos which, in the public interest, are now released in this video. John paid a terrible price for his opposition to these acts. His story is tragic."

Annual Party & Fundraiser at Johnny D's -- tons of fun!

For event flyer, click here.

Annual Party and Fundraiser for the Smedley D. Butler Brigade of Veterans For Peace -- Thursday, November 17 at Johnny D's in Somerville...  Dinner 6-8 p.m.... entertainment 7-10 p.m.  $15 cover charge.  Raffle -- win great prizes!  Featuring: Public Interest, with Opening Act Marcia Deihl.  Please join us!

Join us for Veterans Day Parade and Event, November 11!

To download the flyer, click here!

Join us Friday, November 11, for our Veterans (Armistice) Day for Peace Parade and after-parade event!  See details above!