Veterans walk for peace

 

 By Reginald Johnson

 

 One time they marched to war.

Now they’re walking for peace.

Members of the national group Veterans for Peace are walking 700 miles from Maine to Washington, DC to highlight the need to end wars and militarism.

They’re also pressing for action on the existential threat of climate change.

The long walk is entitled “Peace Walk 2024 --- Silencing the Drums of War.”

“What these veterans want is independence from the dark prison of war and militarism so that our nation can focus its attention, energy, resources, and creativity on addressing the real threats of nuclear war, climate collapse and future pandemics,” said a release from Veterans for Peace.

  “They believe that our focus on military and economic primacy in the world is misguided because the only way to address these global threats is collaboratively through global cooperation,” the statement read.

The walkers started out from Ogunquit, Maine on May 7 and are now in Connecticut. They marched through eastern Connecticut towns along the shoreline last week, were in Norwalk for the Memorial Day Parade on Monday, will be in Milford Wednesday and in Bridgeport on Thursday.

 The walk will end on July 5 in the nation’s capital, where participants will take part in demonstrations against NATO at that organizations 75^th anniversary celebration.

  VFP leaders said anyone can take part in the event and walk any distance they can along the designated route. To register to walk, volunteer or donate, go to this website: http://peacewalk2024.org/get-involved/

 Jim Brasile, a Vietnam War veteran from Newington who walked a number of miles in eastern Connecticut, said marchers carry a variety of anti-war signs, like “Stop War” and “Stop the Killing in Gaza” and “Nuclear Weapons are Illegal."  

 People are walking on either the sidewalks or in the bike lanes.

Brasile said while most drivers ignore the walkers, others honk or give them the thumbs up.

 “With about 70%, there is no response. They’re busy. About 20%, we get thumbs up or the peace sign. And then with 10 percent maybe, you get half the peace sign turned around and a lot of them shaking their heads. They can’t mentally understand what we’re trying to say.”

  But Brasile is happy with the people that are responding positively. “Every little bit helps.” he said.

     

Members of Veterans for Peace are taking part in a 700-mile walk from Maine to Washington, DC to protest war. Here some of the walkers stop in New London, Connecticut, holding anti-war signs outside the Electric Boat company, which makes submarines for the Navy.

  John Miksad, a Veterans for Peace member from Wilton said a group of about 30-40 people joined together to take part in the Norwalk Memorial Day Parade where they carried peace banners and got a good reception from the crowd.

  The peace group had veterans (including a 92-year-old Korean War vet), members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Norwalk, Quakers and others.

 “I’ve been marching in the parade for about five years and this is the best turnout we’ve had,” said Miksad.

   “This is a good sign because it appears the peace movement is growing again. My guess is what’s happening is, particularly young people, are seeing this war in Gaza, the horror of civilians being killed, 14,000 children killed, people buried in the rubble and I think they’re seeing firsthand the violence and the barbarity of war.”

 He added, “People are repulsed by it. It’s being live streamed onto people’s phones and tablets and computers and they’re saying, ‘Not in my name.’ Certainly that’s what these veterans who are are walking are saying, ‘Not in our name.’ “

  The peace walk is dedicated to Daniel Ellsberg, the long-time anti-war activist who died last year.  In 1971, Ellsberg released the trove of classified documents known as "The Pentagon Papers" which revealed the lies the government had told about the Vietnam War.  The revelations helped swing public opinion against the war and led to an end to the conflict.