In Remembrance of Horace Coleman
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear Veterans for Peace and Vietnam Veterans Against the War brother, Horace Coleman.
Horace was a longtime key member of Veterans for Peace Chapter 110 in Southern California, serving as Chapter Treasurer until a severe stroke drastically limited his participation three years ago. Horace was also actively involved for years in Military Families Speak Out, and participated in many peace events as a veteran and as the father of a veteran.
A Captain in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, Horace deployed to Vietnam. There he developed his keen sense of war’s folly and murderous injustice. A grass roots intellectual and activist ever since his return in the 60’s, Horace found his voice as the host and producer of the first black student-run radio show, at Ohio University. He and his colleagues were the first to educate college students about the My Lai massacre also. Horace Coleman was one of our reliable “regulars” as an Arlington West Memorial Chapter 110 supporter and participant, and he often spoke to youth at schools and community events about the true cost of war.
As a talented writer, Horace was also a regular contributor of articles for Vietnam Veterans Against the War. His 1995 book of poetry, In the Grass, earned praise from such figures as Howard University’s E. Ethelbert Miller, who hailed the work as “a book of darkness and revelation.” It is available from Amazon. Among his other accomplishments, Horace’s photography graced the pages of numerous publications, including the national VFP Newsletter.
Horace was a pillar of the southern California peace community, an articulate and outspoken peace activist. We miss him dearly. Messages of condolences can be sent to his son, Drake Coleman at drakecoleman at hotmail.com.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be mailed to Veterans For Peace Chapter 110 at 775 Havana Ave., Long Beach, CA. 90804-4450.
Activists in Teaneck protest Trump’s Afghanistan war strategy
NBC News Reports on Trump Troop Increase Protest
Military Families Speak Out featured in La Opinion, the most widely read Spanish-language newspaper in the United States
Military Families & Veterans To Hold Demonstrations In Opposition To Afghanistan Troop Increase
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA – August 20, 2017 – Military Families Speak Out (MFSO) members know the true costs of the war. In response to President Trump’s upcoming Afghanistan policy announcement, we are prepared to hold demonstrations to protest any increase of “boots on the ground” in Afghanistan. This will occur on the day following Trump’s official announcement in conjunction with simultaneous protests at Congressional offices by members of Military Families Speak Out, Veterans for Peace, and supporting organizations in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Long Beach, California.
Since the start of the war on Afghanistan, over 2400 American service members and many thousands of civilians have been killed according to icasualties.org. Countless others have been injured, lost to suicide, or suffer from invisible wounds such as Traumatic Brain Injury, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, along with drug and alcohol abuse. To many Americans these are just statistics, but these are our loved ones.
“The losses and injuries our families have already suffered from the ongoing wars in the Middle East have not been addressed and there is no end is in sight for them. We simply cannot ask our troops to make any more sacrifices than they already have,” says Military Families Speak Out National Coordinator, Pat Alviso, whose son was recently been deployed for the sixth time.
Our members know the long-term effects of military action as part of an unjust war. We have members available for interviews nationwide to talk about how this will affect the lives of their loved ones and their families
When: Tuesday, August 20th, at 4 PM
Address: Pacific Coast Highway and Main St. in Huntington Beach by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher’s office (101 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648)
Media Contacts:
Pat Alviso 562-833-8035
Tim Kahlor 951-216-9620
Military Families Speak Out continues our demand that the military cease involvement in Afghanistan and bring all our troops home now! We call for the use of diplomacy.
Demonstration against projected troop level increase in Afghanistan
JOIN VETERANS FOR PEACE & MILITARY FAMILIES SPEAK OUT (Chapter 110/ OC)
In a demonstration against another troop level increase in Afghanistan
4:00 p.m. the day after the Trump Administration makes the announcement
PCH and Main St. in Huntington Beach by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher’s office
Please join veterans, military families and other peace groups that are opposed to the increase of troop levels in Afghanistan. Each new sitting president has increased troop levels and it’s time to “END THESE ESCALATIONS”
Military Families Know That Peace Is Patriotic
Members of MFSO were out for July 4th celebrations with the message “Peace Is Patriotic” in Huntington Beach, CA. Members held white umbrellas with this message as part of the Veterans For Peace float.
Being present at these events is one way to spread the MFSO message and talk to people about the need to bring home our troops.
Bring Home Our Troops. Take Care Of Them When They Get Here
Join us at the VFP & IVAW Convention Aug 3-7
update: VFP has set up a special registration page for MFSO members and is offering a special discount for any spouses interested in attending! Click here to register
Join us in Portland, Oregon August 3rd through 7th for the 2011 National Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War Convention. The staff of MFSO will be attending along with our many members who are also members of Veterans for Peace. If you are in the region, we encourage you to attend this weekend to connect with MFSO and our sister organizations, attend workshops, and participate in discussions about what our movement should be doing to bring these wars to an end and take care of returning service members.
We will be hosting a Military Family Meet-Up from 11:30am-1:30pm on Saturday, August 6th at PSU, Lincoln Hall, Room 121
Questions? Email samantha@mfso.org
MFSO Schedule @ the VFP Convention
Wednesday August 3rd
5-7pm Opening Reception – Poolside @ University Place Hotel
8pm Poetry Reading/Open Mic – University Place Hotel
Thursday August 4th
10:30am-12:30pm Opening Ceremony & Plenary – Lincoln Hall Auditorium
12:30-1:45pm Lunch on Your Own
1:45-3:15pm Workshop Block 1
3:45-5:15pm Workshop Block 2
5:15-7:30pm Dinner on Your Own
7:30-10pm The Moral Revolution (public event) – First Congregational Church
Friday August 5th
9-10:15am Plenary on PTSD, MST, TBI and other Veterans’ Health Issues with featured guests: Ed Tick, David Philipps, Darcela Craven, Barry Jones and Jessica Goodell
10:30am-12pm Workshop Block 3
12-1pm Pick up boxed lunch
12:15-2pm Lunch Caucus Meetings
2:15-3:45pm Workshop Block 4
4-6pm Plenary: “Resilience & Resistance” and Discussion: “Future of the Veterans Peace Movement, or, How DO we end war?”
7-10pm Buffet Dinner & Speak Out – open mic starts at 8pm
Saturday August 6th
11:30am-1:30pm Military Family Meet-Up hosted by MFSO – Lincoln Hall Room 121
1:30-2:45pm Lunch at Iranian Summer Festival on Park Blocks, PSU
3-5pm Plenary: “The Silent Truth”
6:30-10pm Banquet
Sunday August 7th
12:30pm Hiroshima Nagasaki Anniversary – No More Nukes Rally and March with VFP – Peace Memorial Park