Monday, October 28, 2013

Join houses of worship across Massachusetts in ringing bells for Armistice Day!


Ring your bells for Armistice Day 
(Veterans Day)

 

Join houses of worship across Massachusetts

in ringing your bells for peace

Details:
Date: November 11, 2013 (Monday)
Time: 11:00 a.m.
 

Before it became "Veterans Day" in 1954, November 11 was known as "Armistice Day" - a holiday "to be dedicated to the cause of world peace". The first Armistice Day was November 11, 1918 when World War I (the "war to end wars") ended. Millions had been killed or wounded, and bells were rung everywhere at 11:00 a.m. on November 11 for many years (11/11 at 11). This year, please consider returning to the great tradition of ringing bells -- church bells and bells at any house of worship from any faith tradition -- at 11 a.m. on 11/11. 

Let's rededicate ourselves to the cause of world peace.

Please let us know if your congregation will participate!

Facebook event page at this link

 
Email us to let us know you'll participate
VFP Coordinator:  Pat Scanlon,  info@massvfp.org    
or, Rev. Lara Hoke mlhoke@uuma.org

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Memorial Day for Peace

Memorial Day for Peace
May 27, 2013, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Christopher Columbus Park
105 Atlantic Ave.
Boston, Massachusetts

Please join us!



Please join Veterans For Peace, Smedley D. Butler Brigade, Chapter 9, and Samantha Smith, Chapter 45, Military Families Speak Out, Mass Peace Action and United for Justice with Peace as we commemorate Memorial Day on Monday May 27, 2013.  See the Facebook Event page at this link.

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. There will be 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 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 for the Event, Memorial Day for Peace 2013

  • Brian Quirk, Merrimack Valley People for Peace - bagpipes
  • Rev. Lara Hoke, UU Congregation in Andover, Secretary of the Smedley Butler Brigade of VFP - Opening
  • Pat Scanlon, Coordinator of Smedley Butler Brigade of VFP - Welcome
  • Bonnie Gorman/Nancy Lessin, Military Families Speak Out, Gold Star Families - In Memory of Charley Richardson
  • Christopher Sheen, Iraq vet - "What Memorial Day Means to Me"
  • David Rothauser - Hiroshima and Nagasaki
  • Kazue Campbell - Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor
  • Sev Bruyn, WWII vet and Prof. Emeritus, Boston College - "Dangers of Another Nuclear Catastrophe"
  • Pat Scanlon, Vietnam vet - sings "Pop, There Goes Boston"
  • Cole Harrison, Mass Peace Action - "America after Hegemony"
  • Webb Nichols, Vietnam vet - "Common Thoughts on Our Common Humanity"
  • Allaa Alkhuthairy, Iraqi refugee - "Effects of War in Syria on Iraq"
  • Raya Shandi, Iraqi refugee and Lowell High School Student - Poem "I Am"
  • Brian Quirk - bagpipes
  • Flower Ceremony
  • Rev. Ralph Galen, Community Church of Lawrence - closing
  • Jessie Perrier, Exec. Comm. of Smedley Butler Brigade of VFP - taps

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

St. Patrick's Peace Parade: People’s Parade for Peace, Equality, Jobs, Climate Justice, Social & Economic Justice

St. Patrick's Peace Parade 2013:

UNITE, PARTICIPATE, CELEBRATE


Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/464556630273778/


Date: March 17, 2013 (Sunday)
Assemble Time: 2:00 p.m.
Parade Start: 3:00 p.m.

Start Location: D Street and West Broadway, South Boston ("Southie")
Look for white "Vets For Peace" Flags




There are various parade divisions -- decide which one your group belongs in, and bring your banner! 

The DIVISIONS are: Veterans groups; Peace groups; LGBT groups; Religious groups (including congregations); environmental groups (Climate Justice); social and economic justice groups; labor groups; political groups. Please invite your group(s) to come! (For Religious Division, please contact Lara Hoke at minister@uuandover.org

There will also be bands and bagpipers! 

Let us know you plan to join us.  Contact:

CONTACTS
VFP: Pat Scanlon
978-475-1776 info@massvfp.org

MassPeaceAction: Cole Harrison
617-354-2169
info@MassPeaceAction.org


Read an article in the RAINBOW TIMES at this link!


Parking available for participants in

Saint Patrick’s Peace Parade





If you are in a band or group or an individual walking in the Saint Patrick’s Peace Parade and need parking for the parade we have secured a parking lot on D Street. It is best to come in from the north by the Convention Center (The Convention Center is located on Summer Street and D Street)



Parking is at 383 D Street, Boston (same street where parade assembly takes place) Look for lot with 40 foot white truck trailers. We must come in off of Summer Street, at the Convention Center. There will be no access coming from West Broadway (The other direction).



From North

Route I-93 to South Station exit (20 A)
Merge onto Purchase Street to light (100 feet)
Make a left onto Summer Street (will pass South Station on right). Go approx. 1 mile to Convention Center. Turn right onto D Street, parking lot .2 mile up on left, (look for VFP Flag)

From South
Route I-93 – Take exit 20 toward South Station. Follow signs for Chinatown, continue straight onto Lincoln Street, turn right onto Kneeland Street, turn left onto Atlantic, south Station will be up on your right. Take a right onto Summer Street. Go approx. 1 mile to Convention Center. Turn right onto D Street, parking lot .2 mile up on left, (look for VFP Flag)
 

WEBSITES: 

Parade: http://stpatrickspeaceparade.com 

Web: http://smedleyvfp.org/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SmedleyVFP
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/smedleyvfp


FLYER:


Our ad in the Rainbow Times:



PARADE ROUTE
The parade route is a little more than 4 miles; last year it took about 1 ½ or 2 hours to march.  There will be a Duck Boat and trolley available for those unable to walk the distance of the parade.  We will assemble on “D” Street and West Broadway (look for white “Veterans For Peace” flags).