Veterans For Peace: Ceasefire NOW and Reclaiming Armistice Day
"As we reflect on the true meaning of this holiday this year, Veterans For Peace is calling for an Armistice – a permanent Ceasefire in Palestine, Lebanon and throughout the Middle East."
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Armistice Is about Ceasing Hostilities
Demand CEASEFIRE on November 11th
Dear VFP Chapters, Members, and Community Organizers,
Our work continues with renewed urgency in the wake of US elections.
Armistice Day is next Monday, November 11 (aka Veterans Day holiday). This email contains links to many different resources to help you make the most of Armistice Day in 2024.
This year, we have been horrified witnesses to Israel’s relentless genocidal war in Gaza, aided and abetted by the US government. As those events continue and the threat of wider war looms, let's observe Armistice Day by calling for a permanent Ceasefire in Gaza—and in the West Bank, Lebanon, Iran, and throughout the Middle East!
With that in mind, VFP Board members and staff have created and assembled some great resources for chapters, members, and allies to utilize for Armistice Day organizing:
Striking new flyer and banner design (thanks to Ellen Davidson) and related graphics to download for use on signs, posters and social media.
A QR code linking to the Armistice Day page on VFP’s website, which offers many Armistice Day suggestions.
A sample Letter to the Editor reclaiming Armistice Day and calling for a halt to US Weapons to Israel.
Link to recent VFP statement supporting Israeli and US soldiers who refuse to participate in genocide and illegal wars.
Links to VFP’s Open Letters to the State Department, to President Biden, to Vice President Harris, and to the Justice Department, detailing US laws being broken by sending weapons to a country that is grossly violating human rights.
Link to the Boycott, Sanction and Divest (BDS) campaign against apartheid Israel.
Armistice Day messaging will be useful this weekend, when some chapters will be marching in Veterans Day parades. We encourage you to utilize these resources throughout next week, not just Monday, but in the days and weeks ahead. With concerted actions and coordinated messaging, we will build momentum and raise a stronger veteran’s voice that will be heard in many quarters. No to Genocide and No to War!
FOLLOW VFP ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Help amplify Veterans For Peace voices.
VFP
3407 S. Jefferson Ave, #219
St Louis, MO 63118
United States
https://www.veteransforpeace.org/take-action/armistice-day
Armistice Day
3–4 minutes
Armistice Day is about Ceasing Hostilities
Demand CEASEFIRE on November 11
The First World War ended in November 1918 when an armistice was declared at the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month,” marking a moment of hope and the promise of peace. For many years this day served as a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and a collective vow of “War No More.” This is still the case in some countries. However, in 1954, the US Congress redefined this day as “Veterans Day,” shifting its focus to the glorification of war and those who wage it. For the last 10 years or so, Veterans For Peace has been working to reclaim November 11 as “Armistice Day,” a day that is dedicated to ending war once and for all.
Today, the looming threats of climate catastrophe and nuclear annihilation have been overshadowed by Israel’s horrific ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza. For over a year, unspeakable atrocities have filled our screens and haunted our consciences. The US government is complicit in Israel’s merciless campaign of ethnic cleansing. The bombs that Israel drops on Palestinian children are made in the USA and provided by the US government. Israel’s US-backed war has now expanded to the West Bank, to Lebanon and to Iran, risking a wider war that could even go nuclear.
As we reflect on the true meaning of this holiday this year, Veterans For Peace is calling for an Armistice – a permanent Ceasefire in Palestine, Lebanon and throughout the Middle East. Inspired by peace-loving people around the world, we pledge to carry this message forward. We will not be complicit in genocide. No one is free until we are all free.
Let us work to:
Remember Armistice Day – Permanent Ceasefire Now
Stop the Genocide – No More US Bombs to Israel
Free, Free Palestine!
Ways To Take Action!
Fly the VFP flag from your yard. The VFP flag comes in two sizes and has grommets, which can be easily attached to any standard pole. Order your VFP flag from the VFP store by October 30th to ensure delivery in time for November 11th.
Distribute Armistice Day Materials. Get out in the community and spread the word! Download and print our Armistice Day flyer here.
Host a peace vigil with your local peace groups: Call together your members and supporters by hosting an in-person event or virtual action on Zoom.
Ring 11 bells for peace: Make it a community effort! Reach out to local churches, community centers, and schools to ring their bells at 11am. Here is a sample outreach letter from Chapter 27.
Spread the word on social media. Share the VFP Armistice Day webpage and materials to spread the word, download social media friendly graphics here
Submit an editorial to your local paper: Download our sample letter to the editor here, adjust if you see fit and send to your local outlet to get published. If your OpEd or LTE is featured, please send us the link so we can share it!
Share the Liturgy of the Bells!: The Liturgy of the Bells is a great opportunity to reach out to local houses of worship to commemorate Armistice Day.
Link People To This Page With a QR Code
The final chapter (statement) in X Rubicon:
We Are Not Your Soldiers
I invite all of you to support and participate with a well-respected national organization, We Are Not Your Soldiers (wearenotyoursoldiers.org). They provide volunteers/vets to speak with students, in participating school systems, in order to educate them on the realities of military "service". You may also gain insight from another well respected organization, Veterans For Peace (veteransforpeace.org), with chapters across the US, Australia, Japan, Vietnam, and more. They provide the same service of educating students on the realities of war and the military. Recruiters, ROTC, and JrROTC interacting with students are a violation of trust. ROTC and JrROTC down into middle school is morally bankrupt and morally criminal. The military indoctrinates children at 10 years of age and below (video). The military does NOT belong in schools, because war and killing is NOT an opportunity.
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Please consider reviewing and/or rating this work where you purchased it from. I have mentioned Jim in relation to this work. I encourage you to read more about him in A Young Man Named Jim on Crossing Rubicons.
I congratulate all US Members of VFP.
Sadly, where I reside there is simply nothing, as a sweeping generalisation, it’s my personal experience that virtually all contemporary veterans here are true believers in the “Borg”.
It makes for a very lonely existence.
“FIELDS Of GOLD”
How Do We Memorialize all the Souls lost to clandestine missions in UnConstitutional “Service” to our ZioNaziMossadMafia, CONgress’ BLATANT, InsiderTrader BLOOD-LUST GREEED❓