Reply #11: Vets for Peace will be marching in the Phoenix Veteran's Day Parade!!!

[alstephenson]

This will be the third year, I believe. My BF is a member so I march with them. It took a lot of "negotiating" - promising to "be good". No signs, no "disrespectful" t-shirts, etc. We carry flags and banners (US, peace sign, Vets for Peace), and a flag-draped coffin. It is surprising how many people actually applaud and give the peace sign! Oh, and then there is that other sign that some give (the single finger salute). This year we are also marching with a wagon that has 104 pairs of boots for the 104 Arizonans killed in Iraq. That may be pushing the envelope a bit - we'll see. The local peace groups set up their signs and banners along the route.

Last year I overheard a young boy ask his mother "is there somebody dead in that coffin, mommy?". Hopefully that led to a meaningful discussion about war and death. Who knows.