Veterans For Peace (VFP) includes men and women veterans of all branches of service, eras, conflicts and duty stations. We are an official Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) represented at the UN. Our collective experience tells us wars are easy to start and hard to stop and that those hurt are often the innocent. Thus, other means of problem solving and old-fashioned diplomatic negotiation are necessary. As veterans, we draw on our personal experiences and perspectives to raise public awareness of the true costs and consequences of militarism and war - and to seek peaceful, effective alternatives. The picture on the left was done by the then 5-year-old son of one of our members (our Chapter Secretary), posted here in Dec 2009, when that once 5-year-old was 42 years old.

VFP 156 Mission Statement:

We, the members of Veterans for Peace, Chapter 156, affirm the objectives of the National Veterans for Peace Mission Statement⁽¹⁾ and dedicate ourselves to the achievement of those goals as we work toward embracing peace within ourselves. Further, VFP 156 pledges:

(a) To be a nonpartisan, multi-Service organization in which each member is treated with respect⁽²⁾;
(b) To use non-violent means to make our positions known⁽³⁾;
(c) To use the power of reason to educate the general public about the realities of war⁽³⁾;
(d) To tell our youth the truth about military enlistment, training, service - the obligations, in-service benefits and veterans’ benefits⁽³⁾;
(e) To present the idea that peaceful solutions are positions of strength⁽³⁾⁽⁴⁾;

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NOTES
(1) One of these, "To abolish war as an instrument of national policy without exhausting all other options," was finally re-affirmed after a too-long haitus, during Hillary Clinton's confirmation hearing for the Secretary of State position under President Obama, on January 13, 2009. She stated that the aim of the Obama Adminstration, and her's, is to do exactly that!!!

(2) "Agreement is less important than respect, for with respect agreement may one day occur, but without it agreement is impossible. Honesty and openness will earn you respect. The times we fought when we did not need to fight, we lost both the fight and potential friends." The Third Millennium, Ken Carey, Harper, 1995, p.79

(3) Mission Statements (b) through (e) are being addressed through this website, in which we are trying to provide a lot of information to those contemplating enlisting in the military, and through our 'Straight Talk' Program to reach out to individuals, school classes and local PTA groups (whereever they exist, OR to try developing parent-information sessions) in Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley.

(4) - In a quote by retired General Wesley K. Clark, Sunday, December 21, 2008, in the Washington Post: "Above all, don't think that we are anxious to 'use our toys.' Forget about the Hollywood dramatics: Soldiers are the last to seek war. We know its personal and professional consequences painfully well. Those in uniform would prefer that President Obama use every other tool and method -- diplomacy, sanctions, calling in the allies -- before sending troops into combat. You're better off leaving political and economic development to others, too. As for crisis response? Please, let the diplomats work their magic first."

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QUOTES

"Peace is not won by those who fiercely guard their differences, but by those who, with open minds and hearts, seek out connections." Katherine Paterson

"We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the
soul of America dies with it." — Edward R. Murrow, CBS newscaster, 1950's-'60s.

"There is no way to peace, peace is the way." — A. J. Muste

"We must be the change we wish to see in the world." — Mahatma Gandhi

"Peace cannot be 'waged,' it must begin within ourselves... from our inner being." — VFP156

"The most destructive decision that an individual can make is to give away his or her decision-making authority."
The Third Millennium, Ken Carey, Harper, 1995, p.43

"It is part of the general pattern of misguided policy that our country is now geared to an arms economy which was bred in an artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and nurtured upon an incessant propaganda of fear." —General Douglas MacArthur, May 15, 1951

"The greatest purveyer of violence in the world today (is) my own government."
Dr. Martin Luther King, April 1967

"There are no winners in violent confrontation. only losers - and more losers."
The Third Millennium, Ken Carey, Harper, 1995, p.81

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Membership: Full Veterans for Peace Membership consists of both active and ex-military, while non-veterans can be Associate Members. Download a ".pdf" copy of our Membership Application Brochure here.

VFP is a 501(c)(3) charity, welcomes your tax-deductible charitable contributions and is a proud affiliate of IAVAW.

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