2008 Events
Iraq Vets Against the war speak out at Winter Soldier II
A National Gathering in Silver Springs Maryland detailed the War Crimes that have resulted from the policies that led to and guided the war in Iraq. The actions echo a similar event a generation ago that our VFP coordinator Scott Camil participated in. Read his article on Winter Soldier linked below.
Click the photo below for more pictures
Winter Soldier Article by Scott Camil
Second Annual Vets Speak Out
Thursday March 20th, 6:30 pm
Santa Fe Community College
The public was invited to hear the veterans tell their stories and thoughts, and to ask questions with due respect
Winter Soldier, Iraq at UF
1402 W University, April 8th, 7:30 – 10:00pm
Westminister Presbyterian Student Center
Sponsored by Students Against War(SAW), Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Campus Progress,Iraq Vets Against the War (IVAW) and Vets for Peace.
Click the photo below for more pictures
Memorial Day Display 2008
8th Avenue NW, Friday through Monday, May 24, 25,26
Click the picture below for more photos
22nd Annual Winter solstice Concert
Friday December 19th, 2008
At the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville
Download the 2008 Winter Solstice Program and articles here.
As usual VFP and Peace Community Supporters turned out in Force. They Came for Music, Fellowship and to Celebrate the spirit of the Season. A Great Time was had by All! Scott did the Helmet Awards at Intermission
These Awards go to Outstanding Supporters of VFP
Ku and Gil for Picketing faithfully for the last 5 years
Denny for his exceptional help with the Solstice Concert and Thanks to Dottie Burnham, Rob and Louis Clarke for Helping make our Veterans Enlistment Guide a Reality
Old soldiers never die, they just fade away
Norman Balabanian, World War II veteran,
surrounded by several generations of his fellow VFP and IVAW friends writes:
“I will reach the age of 86 next week, 62 years after my discharge from the Army.
After tomorrow’s meeting (August 6th, 2008),
that I plan to attend courtesy of John Hawkins, I plan to fade away.
My first involvement with VFP was in 1968 …
when I organized a chapter, then known as VFP in Vietnam,in Syracuse, NY,
in time to get the caps that I distributed
to a number of my vet colleagues at a major demo (over 1000 people)
that I led from near the Syracuse University campus
to the federal building in downtown Syracuse.”
Norm just finished his 11th book, an autobiography.
The first 10 were in his specialty of electrical engineering
,but he has written many fine articles for Vets for Peace over the years.
You will find some of them archived on this site under articles on our side bar
Norm, You will always be with us in our hearts!