Massachusetts Peace Communities Statement of Support for VFP Inclusion in St. Patrick's Day Parade

Massachusetts Peace Communities Statement of Support

for Veterans for Peace inclusion in St. Patrick’s Day Parade

We the undersigned represent a number of peace organizations across the religious spectrum, interfaith and ecumenical, who wish to express our deep concern about the grave injustice, disrespect and clear discrimination against veterans who are voices of peace, through their exclusion from Veterans for Peace from Boston’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  

It is our conviction that the history of such exclusion in Boston is based on secular and political maneuvering.  Such posturing prevents our veterans from expressing the ravages and trauma of war and their collective statement about their experiences and wounds, both physical and mental, in a public forum such as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, meant, ironically, to honor veterans.  Visible reminders of the scourge of war such as members of Veterans for Peace bring to the public forum are consistent with our work as peacemakers in our war-addicted society.

We are aware that The Saint Patrick’s Peace Parade is currently mired in a debate about the exclusion of LGBT sisters and brothers from the main St. Patrick’s Day Parade. 

As communities of peace, we wish to make a clear and consistent statement of support of our veterans, across the gender spectrum, as peacemakers whose civil rights are violated, and who by turning from war, characterize a conversion from killing, to peacemaking, honored by all faith traditions. 

We note that St. Patrick, the Irish Catholic saint, after whom this parade is named, renounced war emphatically when he said in his writings:  “Killing Cannot Be of Christ.”

The Boston Chapter of Veterans for Peace, known as the Smedley D. Butler Brigade, is part of a national veterans’ organization of the same name with 140 chapters around the country, members from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan.

For the past ten years, members of Veterans for Peace have attempted to walk in the St. Partrick’s Day Parade, and in 2011, they were denied participation by the parade organizers, one of whom stated:  “We do not want to have the word peace associated with the word veteran.”

We echo and support the words of Veteran for Peace, Tony Flaherty, LT, USN, Ret. of WWII, a member of the Boston Chapter, and one of its most eloquent spokespersons as an Irish Catholic who has renounced war, spent his entire life in South Boston, and who recently penned the following words to Mayor Walsh of Boston:

“Vets for Peace has been banned, simply for advocating peace and a dedication to offering our children a message that war is not the answer at spectacles glorifying militarism since 2003 (invasion of Iraq) and since initiating the Peace Parade in 2011, have been subjected to insult and calculated obstruction in which City Hall has been complicit.…”

Peace Parade key organizer, Pat Scanlon, a decorated Vietnam Veteran, comments that veterans experience this obstruction as an insult, especially, “to those of us who have experienced the horrors of war and know the real cost of war.” 

Veterans, some in their eighties, have waited for hours in the blazing sun, to march after street cleaners and other public employees finish their post-parade obfuscating and deliberate degradation of impact—under the guise of cleanup.  They are greeted, sometimes with applause, often with jeers and sullen stares, by the handful of dwindling numbers of parade participants.   A court order has altered these delay tactics, but the exclusion remains.

Veterans for Peace have clearly stated their desire: “One parade, welcoming and inclusive of any group.”

We representatives of Peacemaking Communities in Massachusetts want to make clear our support of the Veterans for Peace and our desire:

It is our desire to make visible to the wider community, the black and white flags carried by the Veterans for Peace, heralding their rejection of war. 

We wish to make visible the nobility of the nonviolent tradition through the centuries, carried by great American peacemakers: Lucretia Mott, George Fox, John Woolman, Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day, Daniel and Philip Berrigan, Sr. Megan Rice, Howard Zinn and the countless numbers of the great cloud of witnesses who live on nationally and internationally, across the faith spectrum.

We the undersigned peace communities and individual peacemakers represent the voices of hundreds, if not thousands of our peacemaking brothers and sisters, who are appalled by the blatant disregard for the movement of conscience, the display of courage and nonviolence embodied in the lives of our brother and sister Veterans for Peace.

Signees for Mass Peace Communities Statement of Support for

Veterans for Peace inclusion in St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday March 16^th at 1:00pm in Boston, MA

1.            Arun Gandhi (grandson of Mahatma Gandhi), Gandhi Institute, Rochester, NY  

2.            Patrick Tracy, Director of Campus Ministry, St. Joseph’s College, Patehogue, NY

3.            David O’Brien, Worcester, MA

4.            Jeanne O’Brien, Worcester, MA

5.            Walter Cuenin, Chaplain, Brandeis University

6.            St. Susanna Parish Peace & Justice Committee (Pastor: Fr. Steve Josoma, Chairs: Pat Ferrone, Maureen Hearn, Sally Gould, Fr. Bin Kremmell)

7.            Patricia McSweeney, Taunton, MA

8.            John Schuchardt, House of Peace, Ipswich, MA

9.            Carrie Schuchardt, House of Peace, Ipswich, MA

10.       Peace and Social Concerns Committee of the Friends Meeting at Cambridge

11.        Patricia Kirkpatrick

12.        Justin Duffy

13.        Maureen Hearn, Needham, MA

14.        Rev. Molly Buskette, Lead Pastor, First Church, Somerville

15.        Bill Gural

16.        Rev. Anne Bancroft, Consulting Minister, Universalist Church of Weymouth

17.        Marie Ebacher, Worcester, MA

18.        Rev. Maddie Sifantus, Unitarian Universalist Church of Wakefield, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Milford

19.        Rev. Kim K. Crawford-Harvie, Senior Minister, Arlington Street Church, Unitarian Universalist, Boston

20.       Dick Kirk

21.        Deborah Kirk

22.       David Kay-Webster

23.       Erica Kay-Webster

24.       Severyn Bruyn

25.       Rev. David M. Bryce, Senior Minister, The First Church in Belmont, Unitarian Universalist

26.       Rev. Wendy von Zirpolo

27.        Maryellen Kurkulos, Bridget for All Southcoast, Fall River, MA

28.       Agape Community Mission Council, Hardwick, MA

29.       Teresa Wheeler, Worcester, MA

30.       John Paul Marosy,Worcester, MA

31.        Bob Wegener, Quincy, MA

32.       Alden Poole, Quincy, MA

33.       Janet Poole, Quincy, MA

34.       Catholic Deacon Bill Toller

35.       Rev. Dr. Dorothy May Emerson

36.       Arthur Roberts

37.        Barbara Roberts

38.       Rev. Susan A. Moran, Unitarian Universalist Society of Rockport

39.       Rev. Bruce Taylor, Minister of First Parish Billerica

40.       Hazel Dardano

41.        Skip Schiel

42.       Paul McNeil

43.       Rich Bachtold

44.       Suzanne Shanley

45.       Brayton Shanley

46.       Rev. Diane Miller, Unitarian Universalist Minister, Carlisle, MA

47.        Edmund K. Summersby, Cambridge, MA

48.       Professor Judith Phaqun, Saint Joseph College, Long Island

49.       Catie Scudera, Intern Minister, Arlington St. Church, Unitarian Universalist, Boston, MA

50.       Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein, Lynn, MA

51.        Kevin & Joyce Lucey, Proud parents of Cpl. Jeffrey Michael Lucey, Forever 23 years old. Succumbed to the Hidden Wounds of War, March 18, 1981 – June 22, 2004

52.       Debbie Lucey, Proud sister of Cpl. Jeffrey Michael Lucey, a 23 year old forever, Succumbed to the Hidden Wounds of War, March 18, 1981 – June 22, 2004

53.       Joseph Miller

54.       Beryl

55.       Dr. Robert Emmet Morris, USN/USMC Vietnam 1969-1970, International Health Consultant, South Boston Residents for Peace

56.       Howard Hayward

57.        Rev. Meg Soens

58.       Rev. John Gibbons, First Parish, Bedford, MA

59.       Rev. Art McDonald, PhD., Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Essex

60.       Bobbie Goldman, Merrimack Valley People for Peace

61.        Barbara Corbett-Flavin

62.       Pat Ferrone, Regional Coordinator of Pax Christi MA

63.       Nancy C. Arthur

64.       Justin Rocha, Occupy Fall River

65.       Rev. Rebecca Froom, Assistant Minister, First Universalist Society, Franklin, MA

66.       Caroline Cole, Merrimack Valley People for Peace

67.        Boryana A. Tacconi, Merrimack Valley People for Peace

68.       Sr. Katie Flaherty, South Boston Residents for  Peace

69.       Rev. Amy Freedman, Consulting Minister, Unitarian Universalist First Church in Boston

70.       Jeff Klein, Dorchester People for Peace

71.        Linda Jacobs

72.        James Roy

73.        Dee Halzack, Lowell, MA

74.        Jane Cadarette, Merrimack Valley People for Peace

75.        Rev. Ralph Galen, Transformative Justice and Violence Prevention Ministry

76.        JA Canonico, N. Chelmsford, MA

77.        Dr. Thomas Lee, Goffstown, NH

78.        Eileen Lee, Goffstown, NH

79.        Beth Elliott, Gilbertville, MA

80.       Rev. Dr. Judith Wright, Unitarian Universalist Minister, Northborough, MA

81.        Lou Bernieri, Merrimack Valley People for Peace

82.       Dudley Hartung, Veterans for Peace

83.       Chris Astephen, Stonehill College

84.       Rev. M. Lara Hoke, Consulting Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Andover, MA

85.       Rev. Wendy L. Bell, Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church

86.       Dan Philip

87.        Diana E Philip

88.       Rev. Harold H. Babcock, First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist, Newburyport, MA

89.       Jean Doran, Clarksville, TN

90.       Rev. Judy Deutsch

91.        Faye George, Bridgewater, MA

92.       Rev. Dr. Michelle Walsh, Tuckerman Creative Ministries for Justice & Healing

93.       Brenda McCarthy, N. Andover, MA

94.       Randy Kehler, New England War Tax Resistors, Colrain, MA

95.       Betsy Corner, New England War Tax Resistors, Colrain, MA

96.       Eleanor Maclellan RSCJ, Agape Mission Council

97.        Gayle Aroian, Barre, MA

98.       Bob Aroian, Barre, MA

99.       Brian Quirk, Merrimack Valley People for Peace

100.  Rachel Ravina, Boston University Graduate School

101.   Rev. Clyde Grubbs, Tuckerman Creative Ministries for Justice & Healing

102.   Teresa Shanley, Seabrook, NH

103.   Patricia Hynes, Traprock Center for Peace and Education at Greenfield Community College

104.   Annie Wuelfing, Spencer, MA

105.   Michael True, Professor Emeritus. Assumption College, Worcester, MA

106.   David Gill SJ, Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, CA

107.   Claire Schaeffer Duffy, Saint Therese and Saint Francis Catholic Worker House, Worcester, MA

108.   Scott Schaeffer Duffy, Saint Therese and Saint Francis Catholic Worker House, Worcester, MA

109.   Philip L Milgrom, The Centered Place, Warren, MA

110.   Nancy A. Nowak

111.    Deacon Kevin McCarthy, Blessed Sacrament/All Souls Parish, Springfield, MA

112.    Donna Marosy, Worcester, MA

113.    Pax Christi, Boston, MA

114.    Beth Ingham, Noonday Farm, Winchendon, MA

115.    Bob Jennings, Noonday Farm, Winchendon, MA

116.    Carolyn Whiting, Merrimack Valley People for Peace, Reading People for Peace

117.    Ann Grady, St. Mary of the Angels Parish, Roxbury, MA

118.    Fr. John Patrick Sullivan, LaSalette Pax Christi National Shrine, Our Lady of LaSallette

119.    Rev. Katie Lee Crane, Interim Minister, First Parish Unitarian Universalist in Needham, MA

120.   Karen Hinchen, St. Mary of the Angels Parish, Roxbury

121.    David Hinchen, St. Mary of the Angels Parish, Roxbury

122.   Courtney Schlosser, Barre, MA

123.   Sue Coles, Barre MA

124.   Merrimack Valley People for Peace

125.   Pax Christi MA Board (Pat Ferrone, Chair, Mike Moran, Sally Markey, Jeanne Allen, Sue Malone, Brian Ashmankas, Irene Desharnais, Nancy Carapezza, Ron Holman, Jeanelle Wheeler)

126.   Swanna Champlin, L’Arche Irenicon, Haverhill, MA

127.    Larry & Leah Shea, Quincy, MA

128.   Kitty Vallely and Joe Vallely, St. Mary of the Angels Parish, Roxbury

129.   Eileen Gorman, St. Susanna's Peace and Justice Committee

130.   Judith Rich, Pax Christi MA

131.    Cole Harrison, Mass Peace Action

132.   Rev. MaryHelen Gunn, Spiritual Advisor, Unitarian Universalist, Center for Spirituality, Dialogue, and Service, Northeastern University, Boston, MA

133.   Nanette Eckert

134.   Rabbi Joseph Berman, Jewish Voice for Peace Boston Co-Chair

135.   Edward Downes, PhD, Agape Community

136.   Eileen Reilly, MD, Agape Community

137.    Jeff Brummer, Jamaica Plain

138.   Alan O’Hare, Life Story Theatre

139.   Kay Walsh, Dorchester, MA  Neponset

140.   Melida Arredondo, Gold Star Stepmother to Lcpl. Alex Arredondo 1984-2004 & the late Brian Arredondo 1987-2011

141.    Carlos Arredondo, Gold Star Dad to Lcpl. Alex Arredondo 1984-2004 & the late Brian Arredondo 1987-2011

142.   Jeff Merrick, Military Families Speak Out

143.   Pat Alviso, Military Families Speak Out

144.   Pax Christi MetroWest (Charles Gobron, Fr. Rocco Puopolo, Nancy Carapezza, Louise Bolles, Faith Madzar)

145.   Yvette Bellerose

146.   Peter Wuelfing, Spencer, MA

147.    Fr. Robert D. Bruso, Pastor, St. Anthony Parish, Fitchburg, MA

148.   Dave Ascher, Newton Dialogues on Peace and War

149.   Carol Proietti

150.   Shirley H. Young

151.    Rev. David J. Miller, Unitarian Universalist, Holden MA

152.   Octavia Taylor. New Braintree, MA

153.   Christina Abbey, Pax Christi Boston

154.   Louis Abbey, Pax Christi Boston

155.   Alice Kast, Pax Christi Boston

156.   Cornelia Sullivan, Pax Christi Boston

157.    Susan Harden, Pax Christi Boston

158.   George Payne, Gandhi Institute Rochester, NY 

159.   Suzanne Ewing, Pax Christi USA  

160.   Burke Oppeneheim, Stonehill College 

161.    Prithak Chowdhony, Stonehill College 

162.   Lauren Ireland, Stonehill College 

163.   Katherine Bryer, Stonehill College 

164.   Peter Croke, Stonehill College 

165.   Matthew Crawford, Stonehill College 

166.   Meghan DeCarvalho, Stonehill College 

167.    Melissa Mardo, Stonehill College 

168.   Micah James, Case Western Reserve University 

169.   Hayden Abene, Case Western Reserve University 

170.   Joseph Swanson, Case Western   Reserve University 

171.    Newton Dialogues on Peace and War 

172.    Rev. Edwin A. Lane, Minister Emeritus, First Parish in Waltham  

173.    Linda Davis, Needham 

174.    Andrew Larkin, MD, Northampton, MA

175.    Hilda Carey RSCJ, Cambridge, MA 

176.    Nancy Kehoe RSCJ, Boston, MA 

177.    Emily Jendzejec, Creatively Maladjusted, Boston, MA 

178.    Bennett Comerford, Creatively Maladjusted Boston, MA

179.    Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights

180.   Anne Johnson, Sacred Heart St. Dominic Parish (Portland, Maine) Social Justice and Peace Commission member

181.    Erik Johnson, Sacred Heart St. Dominic Parish (Portland, Maine) Social Justice and Peace Commission member 

182.   Kathleen Connelly Legg, Auburn, MA  

183.   Emily Ferrara, Worcester, MA

184.   Pam DiDente, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Bend, Oregon 

185.   Tom DiDente, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Bend Oregon

186.   Mariann Burke 

187.    Maria Wessman-Conroy, Creatively Maladjusted, Boston MA  

188.   Patricia Reid, RSCJ

189.   Robert Bowers, Quincy, MA 

190.   Roy Bourgeois, SOA Watch, Viet Nam Vet, Navy

191.    Susan Regan, Psy.D.

192.   Veronica O'Brien, Long Island

193.   Better Future Project, Cambridge, MA

194.   David Bonner, Lexington, MA

195.   Jeffrey K. Boudreau, USCG (E6), Arlington, MA 

196.   Eva Moseley, Mass. Peace Action (Cambridge)

197.    Tim Corrigan, Boston, Catholic Worker, Warrior Writers

198.   Rev. Erin Splaine, Senior Minister, The First Unitarian Society in Newton

199.   Winston Bolton, Halifax, MA

200.  Dr. Steve James, Limbe, Haiti

201.   Nancy James, Limbe Haiti

202.  Lee Rule, Burnsville, NC

203.  Kirsten Rule, Burnsville NC

204.  Asia Heller, Asheville, NC

205.  Luke Heller, Asheville, NC 

206.  Mimi Swinger, Asheville, NC 

207.   John Swinger, Asheville, NC 

208.  Carrie James Tibbits, Celo, NC 

209.  Matthew Tibbits, Celo NC 

210.   Lloyd James, Audobon, PA 

211.    David James, Audobon, PA

212.   Jackie Wattenberg,  Melrose

213.   Nancy Lee Wood, Taunton

214.   Ed Kinane, Syracuse

215.   Ann Tiffany,  Syracuse

216.   John Amidon, Albany

217.    Haley Abene, Clayton, NC

218.   Micalita Shatswell 

219.   Sr. Megan Rice

220.  Greg Boertje-Obed

221.   Michael Walli 

222.   Kathleen Murphy

223.   Sr. Teresa Mee, Dublin

224.   Caroline Burwell

225.   Eric Martinez

226.   Sam Kielwein 

227.   Jack Gilroy, Binghamton, NY

228.   Judy Homanich, Binghamton, NY

229.   George Homanich, Binghamton, NY

230.  Constance Preston Scanlon, Andover, MA

231.   Christopher Doucot, Catholic Worker, Hartford, CT

232.   Jackie Allen, Catholic Worker, Hartford, CT

233.   Richard Hudak, Andover, MA

234.   Nancy Mulvey, Andover, MA

235.   David Grober, Andover, MA

236.   Lissa Stuart, Wayland, MA

237.   Ray Mack, West Bridgewater, MA

238.   Charles Petty, WW II infantry vet, Lexington, MA

239.   Andrea Vallario, Methuen, MA

240.  Chas Bicking, RN, Andover, MA

241.   Sharyl Strong

242.   Nathalie Hoke, Camp Hill, PA

243.   Deva Jasheway, Boston, MA

244.   Danny Perkins, VFP, Concord

245.   Military Families Speak Out 

246.   Phil Dunkelbarger, Westwood, MA

247.   Abbie Jenks, MSW, Pelham, MA

248.   John Firmin, Somerville, MA

249.   Paul Del Junco, Toronto, Canada

250.  Pax Christi New Jersey

251.   Sara Kirk, Amherst, MA

252.   Laura Evonne Steinman, Arlington street Church - Director of Religious Education / Artist in Residence - Boston, MA

253.   Rev. Dr. Beth Johnson, Minister, Palomar Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Vista, CA

254.   First Parish UU Church of Bridgewater, Social Justice Committee 

255.   Rev. Dr. Anita Farber-Robertson, Bridgewater, MA

256.   Joan S. Livingston, Eastern-Mass. No Drones Network, Codepink Greater Boston, UNAC, IAC (international Action Center), Alliance for Global Justice

257.   Maria Termini, proud friend of the late Lt. Col. Matthew Martin Cordes, USMC

258.   MaryAnne Cappelleri, Campus Minister, Stonehill College

259.   Rick Gaumer, Norwich, CT

260.  Joanne Sheehan, Norwich, CT

261.   Marabeth W. Nally, Rochester, NY

262.   Leslie A. Fraser, President, Interfaith Council of Franklin County, Multifaith Chaplain, Mount Holyoke College

263.   Suzanne D. LaVoie

264.   Jesse Jaeger, Executive Director of UU Mass Action

265.   Rainbow Times Newspaper

266.   Gricel Martinez, Publisher, Rainbow Times

267.   Nicole Lashomb, Editor, Rainbow Times

268.   Bonnie Gorman, Mass. Gold Star Families for Peace

269.   Sandra Peevers

270.   Mass Peace Action

271.    Wendy Lewis, Caerphilly, Wales, UK

272.   Councillor Ray Davies, Chairman, Wales Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND Cymru), Caerphilly, Wales, UK

273.   Leah A. Brown, Roxbury, MA

274.   John Murray, Somerville, MA

275.   Tony Fernandes, Co-Chair GALLAN/Pride@WorkBoston, SEIU national Lavender Caucus

276.   Mary McCarthy, Grace Church Peace Fellowship, Amherst, MA

277.    Bob Hawley, Grace Church Peace Fellowship, Amherst, MA

278.   Linda Clark, Sterling, MA

279.   Molly Hannon, Roslindale, MA

280.  Alyson Hayes, Quincy MA

281.   Mahtowin Munro, United American Indians of New England

282.   Karen Springer, Proud Bostonian

283.   Gerry Scoppettuolo

284.   Linda Jenkins, street medic and Community Church of Boston

285.   Amanda Donovan, MSW, Ipswich, MA

286.   Carolyn Vega, Chelsea, MA

287.   Susan Teshu

288.   Denise Valdez, OWDC

289.   Sam Adams, Philadelphia VVAW

290.  Sylvain Bruni, President of Boston Pride

291.   J-R Canonico, Member Merrimack Valley People for Peace, N. Andover, MA

292.   David Wise, Veterans For Peace

293.   Ellen Flaherty Shatswell, Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance - Boston (DBSA-Boston), NAMI, Houston, TX

294.   Jonathan Proulx, Cambridge, MA

295.   Tony Flaherty, South Boston

296.   Dale Smoak, Somerville, MA

297.   Susan McLucas, Committee for Peace and Human Rights, Eastern MA Anti-Drones Network

298.   Fr. Emmanuel Charles McCarthy, Brockton, MA

299.   Webb Nichols, Watertown, MA, Veteran for Peace

300.  Diane Dougherty, Atlanta, GA

301.    Amy Hendrickson, Brookline, MA

302.   Jon Cook, Brookline, MA

303.   Megan, Tourlis, Queens, NY

304.   Megan Finnerty, Fort Collins, Colorado

305.  John Bach

306.  Michael Carey

307.   Ghanda DiFiglia

308.  Kim West

309.  Julie McClure

310.   Ian Harrington

311.    Will Watson

312.   Rosalie Anders, Cambridge

313.   Pat Westwater-Jong

314.   Trish Hogan, Cambridge

315.   Nancy Wrenn, member, First Unitarian Society in Newton

316.   David Zackon, North Shore Coalition for Peace & Justice

317.    Elaine Ryan

318.   Bob Bowes, Somerville, MA

319.   Margaret Best, Reston, VA

320.  Arlene Dunkelbarger

321.   Natalie Gehosky

322.   Christopher Nauman, MD, Arlington United for Justice with Peace

323.   Lorraine Grzyb, Somerville, MA - Massachusetts Residents for International Human Rights (MRIHR)

324.   Bob Cable, Somerville, MA - Peace Corps, 1962-64; Associate member of VFP

325.   Gary R. Goldstein, Prof., Tufts University

326.   Margaret Reidister, Winthrop, MA

327.   Alice Reilly, Winthrop, MA

328.   Thea Paneth, Arlington United for Justice with Peace

329.   Emily Snyder

330.  Tove Silver, Cambridge, MA

331.   Zaliah Zalkind, Cambridge, MA

332.   Anne Somsel ,CT

333.   Stephen Kobasa, CT

334.   Jamie Thompson, Somerville, MA

335.   Raphaela Comisso, Back Bay, MA