Veterans For Peace Daniel Ellsberg Chapter 92, Seattle

On November 11th, Veterans For Peace will honor the original intent of Armistice Day, now called Veterans Day, with a ringing of bells at St James Cathedral, Seattle. This Armistice Day, VFP calls on theU.S. public to say no to more war and to demand justice and peace, at home and abroad. This November 11th, 10:30 AM, on the south side of St James Cathedral, 804 Ninth Ave Seattle (First Hill) Veterans for Peace will join with others at for a ceremony that will include a short statement on Armistice Day, the ringing of the bells, a moment of silence, and some readings commemorating the spirit of the day. White “Peace Poppies” will be handed out to commemorate all the victims of all wars.

St James Cathedral continues a tradition of bells commemorating Armistice Day, and Veterans for Peace continues its support honoring the original purpose of the holiday. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918, the guns finally fell silent on the Western Frontof WW11, ending the slaughter that took the lives of seventeen million people. In November 1919 President Wilson signed a proclamation commemorating the end of the war which stated “…the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride for those who died in the country’s service…” and in 1926 the US Congress passed a resolution stating “it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed toperpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations…”

In 1938 Congress made November 11th a legal holiday, celebrated as Armistice Day and dedicated to the cause of world peace and honoring veterans but after World War II, the U.S. Congress decided to rebrand November 11 as Veterans Day which turned a day to perpetuate peace into a day of militaristic displays, patriotic jingoism, a one day” thanks for your service”, a free meal or store discounts. The poet Wilfred Owen, killed on November 4th 1918 wrote in a poem entitled Dulce et Decorum est a quote from the Roman poet Horace. Owen calls it the” old lie” that “It is sweet and proper to die for one’s country”. Another poet, Rudyard Kipling, wrote on the death of his son John . “If any question why we died, / Tell them, because our fathers lied,”.Too often rhetoric and patriotic symbols are used instead of genuine compensation for the extraordinary sacrifices and services of military personnel. And since 90 percent of the victims of wars are now civilians, by honoring only veterans, the public is distracted from the awful price paid by those other than veterans. Armistice Day celebrations have always honored veterans. Veterans Day celebrations should also remember that peace was something for which soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen gave their lives. “There is no way to peace; peace is the way” A.J. Muste

Veterans For Peace will march…

The parade begins promptly at 11:00am. on Saturday, November 5, with staging of entries beginning at 9:30am. Listed below are instructions for the parade. These instructions are in addition to the parade rules & regulations (https://cdn5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_11470554/File/City%20Hall/Parks,%20Arts,%20&%20Recreation/Special%20Events/Veterans%20Day%20Parade%20and%20Observance/22_Parade%20Rules%20&%20Regs.pdf) (click link to open PDF).

1. Your assigned staging area isJ Street SE
A map (https://cdn5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_11470554/File/City%20Hall/Parks,%20Arts,%20&%20Recreation/Special%20Events/Veterans%20Day%20Parade%20and%20Observance/22_Parade%20Map.pdf)(click link to open PDF)is on-line for your convenience. One member of your group must check in with the Seafair Parade Marshals between 9:30–10:30am. The Parade Marshals will be located at the East Main and “I” Street intersection, #2 on the map. Many Streets will be closed. Please arrive early to avoid the traffic congestion. A list of street closures and detour routes (https://cdn5-hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_11470554/File/City%20Hall/Parks,%20Arts,%20&%20Recreation/Special%20Events/Veterans%20Day%20Parade%20and%20Observance/Street%20Closures%20and%20Detour%20Routes_2.pdf)(click link to open PDF)are available on-line. PLEASE NOTE – THE STAGING AREA IS RESERVED FOR PARADE STAGING ONLY. We recommend parking at the Auburn Transit Center Parking Garage at 2nd and A St. SW, at the Washington Elementary School parking lot or utilizing side streets that aren’t being used for the parade or parade staging. There is absolutely no parking in the parade staging area.

2. Your marching order was assigned based on parade protocol for Veterans Day. Officially recognized military and congressionally recognized veteran service organizations march at the beginning of the parade followed by veteran organizations, community organizations and scouting groups. Some groups may not begin marching until 12:00pm. Therefore, if you have young children, a representative can check in early, having the children report to their assigned staging area at a later time. Children may gather along Main Street at their respective staging location to watch the parade and then get into the parade lineup closer to their step-off time. A parade line-up will be available on our website (https://www.auburnwa.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=11470638&pageId=13102507&objectId.253644=13559504&contextId.253644=13102509&parentId.253644=13102510&ref=mesTP9fg96fVsgzpWYeogJ2bvgrCU1eV8%2fG6tc4QbeI%3d)(click for PDF)next week and will be continually updated, as the event approaches.

3. Portable restrooms will be located at East Main & L Street NE, East Main & K Street NE, East Main and I Street NE (at parade check-in) and East Main & F Street SE intersections. There will also be portable restrooms at the ‘Mural Parking Lot’, at the corner of Main and B Street NE. City Hall will also be open for public restroom use, from 9:30am – 2:00pm and there will be portable restrooms on South Division Street.

4. South Division Street will house a variety of Food Trucks including Cascadia Pizza Company, Village Perk & Espresso and the Senior Wellness Team (hot dogs and hamburgers). Visit our on-site media sponsors too! Vendors available from 10am-2:00pm.