Veterans for Peace Organizes Second Iowa Chapter
by Paul DeatonWhen a descendent of founding father John Adams was in Iowa this week, it was occasion to take notice. Elliott Adams, President of Veterans for Peace, was here for a series of events that included presentation of the founding charter to Iowa's second chapter of Veterans for Peace on the grounds of the State Capitol on Monday.
A resident of Sharon Springs, New York, Adams has served as School Board President, Mayor, Committee Chair of BSA Explorer Post 17, President of Rotary and Master of the Masonic Lodge. He left politics to become an activist. He is also Nonviolent Training Coordinator for Veterans For Peace, and a nonviolence trainer for the Fellowship of Reconciliation. He has also done nonviolence and social movement trainings for School of Americas Watch, Student Environmental Action Coalition, War Resistors League, and other groups.
“While the dark cloak of war wraps around us we see them, once again, using war and fear mongering to steal away our rights, killing our brothers and sisters, and robbing the wealth of the nation. We, Veterans For Peace, must stand at the forefront of the defense of the true principles of this nation. We must stand together and stand strong,” said Adams.
Des Moines activist Frank Cordaro reported on Monday's events:
“Twenty Iowa VFP, friends and supporters showed up at the Federal building in Des Moines to deliver an Iowa Veterans for Peace petition to representatives from Senators Grassley and Harkin's offices. A representative from both Harkin and Grassley's offices joined the Veterans for Peace delegation outside in front of the Federal building to receive copies of a signed petition from Chapter 161 President Ed Flaherty of Iowa City.
The petition read, “We, the undersigned, support: Withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, beginning NOW at the rate of at least 8000 per month, with all US troops out by 12-31-2011. A swift withdrawal of US armed forces and military contractors from Afghanistan, which must include a significant, sizable reduction by July, 2011. An immediate freeze of the base Pentagon budget at 2008 levels. And an audit of the Department of Defense (which would be the first ever).”
Adams, Flaherty and newly elected President of the Des Moines Veterans for Peace Chapter 163, Gil Landolt, all spoke briefly.
The Veterans for Peace, their friends and supporters reconvened at the Vietnam War Memorial on the south side of the Iowa State Capitol for the official presentation and recognition by Adams of the newly formed Chapter 163. Adam's handed Landolt a signed and framed official certificate.
More words were spoken… Ed Flaherty presented Adams an Iowa state flag with the motto “Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain” to remind him of his visit to Iowa. Des Moines Veterans for Peace member Greg Helle gave Adams a signed copy of his book, “A Walk In Hell: The Other Side of War.” Des Moines member James Marren talked to Adams about the effort to make a Veterans National Recovery Center in Knoxville.
After all the presentations presentation and talks folks were invited for Lunch at the Bishop Dingman Catholic Worker House where the good times and sharing continued.”
The petition read, “We, the undersigned, support: Withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, beginning NOW at the rate of at least 8000 per month, with all US troops out by 12-31-2011. A swift withdrawal of US armed forces and military contractors from Afghanistan, which must include a significant, sizable reduction by July, 2011. An immediate freeze of the base Pentagon budget at 2008 levels. And an audit of the Department of Defense (which would be the first ever).”
Adams, Flaherty and newly elected President of the Des Moines Veterans for Peace Chapter 163, Gil Landolt, all spoke briefly.
The Veterans for Peace, their friends and supporters reconvened at the Vietnam War Memorial on the south side of the Iowa State Capitol for the official presentation and recognition by Adams of the newly formed Chapter 163. Adam's handed Landolt a signed and framed official certificate.
More words were spoken… Ed Flaherty presented Adams an Iowa state flag with the motto “Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain” to remind him of his visit to Iowa. Des Moines Veterans for Peace member Greg Helle gave Adams a signed copy of his book, “A Walk In Hell: The Other Side of War.” Des Moines member James Marren talked to Adams about the effort to make a Veterans National Recovery Center in Knoxville.
After all the presentations presentation and talks folks were invited for Lunch at the Bishop Dingman Catholic Worker House where the good times and sharing continued.”
Check out photos of the Des Moines events here.
~Paul Deaton is a native Iowan living in rural Johnson County and weekend editor of Blog for Iowa. E-mail Paul Deaton
Blog For Iowa 
The Des Moines Chapter #163 is proud to join Chapter #161 as the second Veterans For Peace chapter in Iowa within a year. Together, we will work together to ensure that the voice of Iowa Veterans and associate members are heard and that we oppose war. We will work together and with other peace groups we will work on many fronts to educate our representatives and the public that war does not create peace. I am excited about these events and looking forward to working closely with other Veterans for Peace members and well as other peace groups to promote a country without war. As a disabled Vietnam veteran, I have seen the cost of war. So many join us who have not had to see war up close but know that war does not solve any problems. I join with all my brothers and sisters, veterans and non-veterans, in voicing my opposition to war and will work to educate and help meet the needs of those who have had to experience war. This has been a proud year for all Iowans. Let our voices be heard.
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