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.

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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.

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Memorial Day Display 2008

8th Avenue NW, Friday through Monday, May 24, 25,26

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  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!