VFP still in operation today?

[101Scout]

I was wondering if the VFP (Veterans For Peace) is still in full operation after last fall when they ran into trouble. Does anyone have any clue to how they are doing today?

As a vet, I feel they do a lot of good for what's right in the USA and hope they continue to do so.

[The_Bammo]

You know SOff---good question - did a little research on VFP and found this -

Camp Casey III Fires Lawyers, Lawyers Say $100K May Be Missing September 20, 2005

It would appear Cindy Sheehan's Veterans For Peace, have terminated the services of their lawyers, Buddy and Annie Spell. [I think the author means for us to understand that Cindy Sheehan and VfP are allies, and not that Cindy Sheehan created VfP, which is not true]

Spells terminated / failed to provide relief

Spells no Longer involved in Disaster Relief / Fail to provide service

Dear Ms. Arata-Spell and Mr. Spell,

I am writing to request the following be delivered to Monica Hampton at The Green Room, tomorrow, Monday September 16 at 1pm.
1. All records, receipts, and chart of accounts relating to Veterans for Peace, chapter 116. These items include
+ The notebook of receipts supplied to Ms. Arata-Spell and Mr. Spell by Monica Hampton on September 16;
+ requests-for-reimbursements filled out by vounteers and VFP;
+ receipts on inventory ordered and delivery confirmation;
+ reimbursed receipts.

2. Copies of every check written to pay for VFP expenditures, as well as an inventory of what items were bought and delivered with those monies.

3. A reimbursement request for each separate receipt or outstanding purchase order and delivery confirmation put in by Ms. Arata-Spell and Mr. Spell including description of how monies spent were used for immediate relief.

4. Three pre-signed blank checks on the VFP Redwood Credit Union account, signed by Patrick Tate., VFP chapter 116 president.

5. All donations received by Ms. Arata-Spell and Mr. Spell on behalf of VFP chapter 116, including a $300 cash donation from Mid-Rivers Ethical Society.

6. A list of any and all vendor or other accounts opened on behalf of VFP chapter 116 and any purchase orders on those accounts.

Upon receipt of the requested materials, to be supplied to Monica Hampton no later than 1pm Monday, September, 19 2005, the VFP chapter will immediately review the reimbursement request submitted by Ms. Arata-Spell and Mr. Spell, and will supply a check or direct wire to The Spells for the agreed amount. We request five business hours (defined as Monday - Friday, 9am-5pm) to review the materials supplied to us before the money transfer can occur. As you know, Ms. Spell, we are waiting for the money to be transferred into the Louisiana bank, which may delay this timetable. To expedite the reimbursement of the monies, please provide us with any computer records available.

Twenty four hours after the monies are received by Ms. Arata-Spell and Mr. Spell (and after it is that the file can be opened), all computer files and accounting records generated by the Spells are to be deleted.

Thank you both for your efforts during the time we worked together.

Sincerely,

Patrick Tate
President
Veterans for Peace
Chapter 116

And

Michael McPhearson
Executive Director
Veterans for Peace, inc."

This termination letter from VfP was posted at a Democratic Underground forum, then removed. It was followed by this response from the Spells, also posted at the Democratic Underground, also deleted soon after.

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Seems like Cindy Sheehan and VFP were not to damn happy with their lawyers - ya' think?

Something in Sweetness and Life about it as well [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

You know the Internet SOff VFP could be completely innocent of this BS and the lawyers could of scammed their azz's - who knows.

VFP homepage SOFF - [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

VFP and Katina off of their site [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Contact them SOff and see what really went down with this stuff - [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Something pretty Smelly about this BS SOff and for some reason I do not think VFP was to blame - Gut Feeling SOff

Hang Tough~

[CD3]

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[101Scout]

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Not exactly VFP related but still close to the same message about veterans and politics with damn good sites above to remind us how war veterans still play a major role in our politics as they should. Veterans are not any better than civies as a given per say, but they sure do understand all the crap that war brings to this planet's future population and lifestyle. Especially when it's as politically corrupt and backed as it is today.

[The Fighting Dems is a nickname given to more than 56 military veterans who are running for Congress as Democrats in the 2006 congressional elections. They are hoping to capitalize on their military experience to topple their Republican challengers. On December 20, 2005, a group of Fighting Dems met in Washington, DC for a strategy session and voted on a name for their coalition: Veterans for a Secure America. On Frebruary 8, 2006, nearly 40 of them met again in Washington, DC to gather and unite outside of the U.S. Capitol. The event was lead by former Senator Max Cleland of Georgia, a Vietnam veteran. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee claims that it is not actively recruiting military veterans.]

[The_Bammo]

Bro' this VFP in Maine is alive and well---for sure



STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:

We, having dutifully served our nation, do hereby affirm our greater responsibility to serve the cause of world peace. To this end we will work, with others

(a) To increase public awareness of the costs of war
(b) To restrain our government from intervening, overtly and covertly, in the internal affairs of other nations
(c) To end the arms race and to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons
(d) To seek justice for veterans and victims of war
(e) To abolish war as an instrument of national policy.

“The war against Iraq is as disastrous as it is unnecessary; perhaps in terms of its wisdom, purpose and motives, the worst war in American history…. Our military men and women…were not called to defend America but rather to attack Iraq. They were not called to die for, but rather to kill for, their country. What more unpatriotic thing could we have asked of our sons and daughters…?” — William Sloane Coffin

Maine Veterans For Peace Chapter 001
13 Soper Road Chesterville, Maine 04938
207-293-2580

Veterans for Peace, Inc. (VFP) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational and humanitarian organization dedicated to the abolition of war.

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[CD3]

Bro' this VFP in Maine is alive and well---for sure



STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:

We, having dutifully served our nation, do hereby affirm our greater responsibility to serve the cause of world peace. To this end we will work, with others

(a) To increase public awareness of the costs of war
(b) To restrain our government from intervening, overtly and covertly, in the internal affairs of other nations
(c) To end the arms race and to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons
(d) To seek justice for veterans and victims of war
(e) To abolish war as an instrument of national policy.

“The war against Iraq is as disastrous as it is unnecessary; perhaps in terms of its wisdom, purpose and motives, the worst war in American history…. Our military men and women…were not called to defend America but rather to attack Iraq. They were not called to die for, but rather to kill for, their country. What more unpatriotic thing could we have asked of our sons and daughters…?” — William Sloane Coffin

Maine Veterans For Peace Chapter 001
13 Soper Road Chesterville, Maine 04938
207-293-2580

Veterans for Peace, Inc. (VFP) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational and humanitarian organization dedicated to the abolition of war.

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I usualy hang with Vets at protests to avoid conversing with cowards and airheads. 8)

[The_Bammo]

I usualy hang with Vets at protests to avoid conversing with cowards and airheads. 8)

CD a lot of times those wanna bee hero's and airheads are Vets ---ever notice that? I sure as he_l do and it gets me PO'D bad.

See it all the time CD, being a Nam Vet opposed to the Iraq War and a proud member of the VVAW - seen more of my share of these Red, White, and Blue yes men and women with WWE intelligence!

Hang Tough~

[The_Bammo]

Veterans for Peace push their message
By Bill O'Brien


The 80-some crosses offered the names, photographs, ages and hometowns of Michigan soldiers killed in the three-year-old war in Iraq, and gave a brief explanation of how they died. On a damp, gray Sunday morning, onlookers walked quietly through the makeshift memorial and — like Gilbert — found themselves deeply touched by their surroundings.

"You read about these things all the time," said Gilbert, a resident of Frankfort. "But to see all the crosses in the same spot and read about these young men...it's so unfortunate that we have to have wars."

The scene was among numerous vigils and observances across the country over the holiday weekend organized by Veterans For Peace, a national organization of military veterans that supports non-violent alternatives to armed conflict.

"It's a small thing, but I hope some people take notice," said Paul Rauth, a Frankfort summer resident and member of the local Veterans for Peace chapter.

"Over the years we've had a lot of wars, but I'm not sure what's been solved," said Rauth, who served state-side in the Army during the Korean War. "In general, I think we need to spend more money on solving our problems peacefully."

Several visitors were struck by the young ages of the fallen soldiers, many of them in their late teens and early 20s.

"These kids are from our cities and our towns," said Traverse City resident Jim Coats, who stopped with his wife and some friends from Suttons Bay during a ride along the Betsie Valley Trail. Like several passers-by, they thanked the organizers and commended their efforts for remembering those lost in the war

While some organizers have deep misgivings about the war in Iraq, they said their event was not an anti-war statement but a recognition of the ultimate sacrifice made by Michigan's soldiers and their families.

"The purpose of this display is to memorialize the veterans, and inform the public about the cost of war," said Robert Burnett of Frankfort, a member of the local Veterans for Peace chapter. "Regardless of one's political views, everyone should honor the soldiers that have died."

Veterans for Peace is a national organization founded 21 years ago, and has a national office in St. Louis, Mo. The organization's northern Michigan chapter was officially chartered in January and includes about two dozen members. Burnett credited Traverse City residents John and Betty Lewis for most of the work to prepare the crosses, although Lewis is hospitalized awaiting heart surgery and wasn't able to attend Sunday.

The group will conduct a similar observance today in Traverse City. The crosses will be on display from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. along Washington Street and Boardman Avenue near Grace Episcopal Church.


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Korean War veteran Paul A. Rauth helps assemble the Memorial Day display Sunday morning at the Open Space in Frankfort.

[The_Bammo]

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Crosses honor soldiers' sacrifices
Updated: 5/28/2006 5:25:36 PM
By: Sean O'Grady


Nearly 2,500 crosses lay on a hillside in Fonda, each representing the life of an American solider killed in Iraq since the start of the current war.

"This is our way of saying 'Americans, wake up.' This is what's happening," said Bill Keyes, President of The Thomas Paine Chapter of Veterans for Peace. "This is the sacrifice our young people have given for us."

Keyes's group constructed the casualty shrine to illustrate what they call the reality of the war in Iraq.

"It is very striking, very striking," said Ray Aumand, a member of Veterans for Peace, "because in a very concrete way, it reminds us that in this case here, there are over 800 additional dead military service personnel in this past year alone."

This is the third year in a row that the Veterans for Peace have set up crosses on the hill, and sadly, each year the number of crosses continues to grow.

"It's very sad. It's tragic, and it makes us harken back to our own experience in Vietnam," said group member John Amidon.

The group is a collage of veterans from different wars, but they share a common disdain for the Bush Administration and the war in Iraq. Yet, the Veterans for Peace want to make it clear that the casualty shrine is not a protest, but merely a sign of support for fellow soldiers.

Group member Elliott Adams said, "It is my country. It is therefore my war. So we all own it."

That attitude makes the shrine a true symbol of the war's cost---whether you agree with the war effort or not.

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[The_Bammo]

Veterans for Peace to address Fallbrook Democrats May 29



FALLBROOK — Jim Brown, immediate past president of San Diego Veterans for Peace, will speak at the next Democratic Club of Greater Fallbrook meeting. His topics will be the Arlington West Memorial, which will be held in Fallbrook on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, and also Hurricane Katrina disaster recovery efforts. Brown was present at Camp Casey, assisting Cindy Sheehan from its inception, which placed him and other VFP members en route to Washington near the Gulf Coast when Katrina hit.

Brown served as a US Marine Corps Lieutenant in Vietnam with the 1st Marines and was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon and the Purple Heart. After a brief talk, he will take questions from the floor.

The club meets Thursday, May 4, at 7:00 p.m. at the FPUD Board Room, 990 E. Mission Road. For more information contact Club President Jim Dooley at [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] or (760) 728-5682. The club meets the first Thursday of every month.

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