An
Internationalist
Memorial Day

On May 31st, a group of about 20 veterans joined the larger crowd at the annual Memorial Day ceremony held at a Pacific Northwest cemetery. The difference this year was that these were anti-war veterans, members of Veterans For Peace, Chapter 92 and Vietnam Veterans Against the War Anti-Imperialist, participating in a ceremony dominated in the past by members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. While we had been invited by the event organizer, we were not sure how we would be received by the other participants. It was important, however, that we take out a clear anti-war message for the times.

Prior to the ceremony, several VFP members went out to the Kitsap Peninsula to visit with the eldest member, a 100 year-old WWII vet who, along with his wife of 75 years, signed a card to commemorate the wreath to be presented. The day of the ceremony, we gathered at the north gate of the cemetery to prepare ourselves. Then with a dozen globe flags and a banner that read, "We Remember ALL the Victims of U.S. War" marched to the beat of our own drum to the center of the cemetery where the ceremony was to be held. Forming up with the other veteran organizations in a column of twos while waiting for the procession of colors to start, we were informed of the traditions with respect to the U.S. flag that guided the ceremony but we encouraged each other to do what we felt was right. This led to several interesting discussions about whether globe flags should go in the right flank and whether we should dip the globe flag to the U.S. flag at the memorial tomb. Up and down the column, people were talking about a range of facts and ideas and becoming clearer on what we were trying to accomplish by our participation. While no one decided to carry a globe flag on the right, everyone agreed that the globe flag should not dip to the U.S. The irony that our government's war of terror is, in effect, saying that the world should bow to the U.S. was not lost on anyone there that day.

During the ceremony, the two of us holding the banner strung between two globe flags were among those left standing by the lack of chairs. It gave me an opportunity to look over the gathered crowd. As I looked at all of their faces, I saw not a sign of anger or opposition for what we were saying. I felt honored, and very much an internationalist, to be representing all of the victims of U.S. war and aggression. Then later, when applause rippled through the crowd as we were announced and laid our wreath, I knew that we had done the right thing by bringing an internationalist message to the ceremony.

In a get together afterwards, many of the veterans were visibly moved by what had taken place. They spoke of being approached by many and being thanked for attending. It was clear that the voice of anti-war veterans needs to be part of the struggle to end this country's war of terror.