Veterans Day - Armistice Day
in Portland, 2009

Veterans For Peace March In The Portland Parade This Armistice Day

by Mark Roman, Waterville Area Bridges for Peace & Justice and CODEPINK Maine

Today the Maine Veterans For Peace marched in the Veterans Day Parade in Portland. Their group began with their street wide Veterans For Peace banner followed by many supporting marchers and ended with another banner stating Veterans For Peace Are Against War - All War. Get Out Of Afghanistan.

All along the route, as the Veterans For Peace group passed, the onlookers steadily broke into spontaneous applause, gave peace signs and said thank you. A number of people stepped off the curb to join the marchers. Many of these new marchers were wearing hats identifying them as past service members from the various armed forces. They marched with pride, wanting their presence to add to the message that War Is Not The Answer. By the time the march reached its end and the banners were displayed facing the speakers on the steps of the town hall, there were clearly more marchers with Maine Veterans For Peace then there were with the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

One of the VFW officials came over to the VFP group and threatened them with never being able to march in this parade again if they would not put their sign away. When they did not comply, he went to a group of policemen to argue his case. They shook their heads, the official went off, and the ceremonies began.

Today the citizens of Maine`s largest city gave a clear message of support to voices for peace. Thank you, Portland.

Address:
Veterans For Peace
William Ladd Chapter
P.O. Box 10
Deer Isle, ME 04627


e-mail:
vfpmaine@vfpmaine.org


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