military

Adrienne shares her report back from a recent Veterans For Peace US delegation to Okinawa. There, she and fellow VFP US members joined VFP Okinawa and VFP Japan members to learn more about the impacts of US militarism on the island and show solidarity to the Okinawan resistance. We also learned about Okinawan history, and current movements to oppose the growing US military presence.

While Okinawa comprises just 0.6% of the land that is Japan, over 62% of US military bases are located there with great cost to the Okinawan people. These impacts have included environmental damage, noise pollution, threats to the waters and bays around Okinawa, disruption of their culture and society, and possible eradication of an endangered species, the Okinawan dugong.

Learn more about the movement of the Okinawan people, which also includes opposing the increasing presence of US military aircraft flying over the island, which has been fraught with countless accidents over the years – a forewarning of what may come to Vermont with the basing of the F-35.

Ed Von Sitas, member of the Essex Memorial Day Parade Committee and a Vietnam Veteran, Ed Daudelin, Commander VFW Post 6689 and Committee Member, speak with Grand Marshal's TSgt. Gary Cook and Col. James Spaulding, Essex High School Air Force JROTC Teachers, on the program and the plans for the Essex Memorial Day Service and Parade.

Memorial Service will be held May 27, 2016 7:30 pm at The First Congregational Church 39 Main St, Essex, VT 05452. Followed by 8:30 pm Candlelight Vigil Veterans Memorial Park, Five Corners, Essex, VT 05452. Open House at the VFW Post 6689, 73 Pearl St Essex Immediately Following.

Essex Memorial Day Parade begins May 28, 2016 at 10:00am exactly, parade steps off and leaves gate F of the Champlain Valley Exposition, follows access road to Rte 2A and turns right onto Rte 2A South (Lincoln St), follows Rte 2A south to the Essex Junction 5 corners (where reviewing stand is). Parade turns right at the 5 corners onto Rte 15 West (Pearl St) follows Pearl St to Exposition gate B (by Bouchard Pierce) where they will turn right and continue to the dispersal area.

For more info visit: Essex Memorial Day Parade

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 782 places fresh flowers and flags at the Battery Park memorial site in commemoration of lives lost by men and women of the military. 

Ed Von Sitas, member of the Essex Memorial Day Parade Committee and a Vietnam Veteran, speaks with Grand Marshall George W. Bergin, Navy Senior Chief, Korean Veteran, and Ed Daudelin, Committee Member and Commander of VFW Post 6689 on their service and the plans for the Essex Memorial Day Service and Parade. The 2014 Theme is 'All Gave Some - Some Gave All'.  Memorial Service will be held on Friday, May 23rd, 7:00pm in the Essex Congregational Church.  Parade starts at 10am on Saturday, May 24th through the Essex Five corners.