OUR MISSION

Veterans for peace was founded in 1985 to:
Increase the public awareness of the total costs of war
Restrain our government from intervening in the internal affairs of other nations
End the arms race
Reduce, and eventually eliminate, nuclear weapons
Seek justice for veterans and victims of war
Abolish war as an instrument of national policy

We attempt to accomplish our mission through public displays such as marching in parades, our cross displays on Veteran's Day and    Memor ial Day in the open area in Traverse City and speaking out against war in public places.  We proudly wear our Chapter 50 T-shirts.  We also attempt to be present at schools to show the true side of militarism when recruiters are present.

Veterans For Peace promotes a humane and democratic local, national, and global society, by educating the public as to the true social, ecological, and spiritual costs of war.  Our membership includes veterans of all eras and duty stations and we actively work to prevent the spread of militarism as a form of foreign policy

Veterans for Peace chapter 50, named in honor of longtime northern lower peninsula peace activists, and military veterans, Char and Bruce Sanderson tries to carry on their legacy.




"There is a magic formula for resolving conflicts.  It is this: Have as your objective the resolving of conflict, not the gaining of advantage.  There is a magic formula for avoiding conflicts.  It is this:  Be concerned that you do not offend, not that you are not offended."
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Quote from Peace Pilgrim
                                                   MEMBERS COMMENTS IN LOCAL PAPERS
Follow the links below to view the articles submitted by Chapter members that were published in local papers.

Don Storing, Cost of Unjust Wars:

http://record-eagle.com/opinion/x1760133267/Forum-Editorial-on-troops-was-on-mark

Dave Lannen, Medical Care to Wounded Afghan Civilians

http://www.morningstarpublishing.com/articles/2010/08/25/grand_traverse_insider/opinion/doc4c72b9e05f89e937874280.txt

Dave Lannen, Welcome Home Vets:

http://record-eagle.com/opinion/x1760133927/Letters-to-the-Editor-10-04-2010

Tim Kennan, About Veterans For Peace

http://record-eagle.com/forums/x2074892654/Forum-Veterans-for-Peace-reach-out

Dave Lannen, Indefensible Budget
http://www.northernexpress.com/editorial/letters.asp?id=4944


Phil Houle, Cost of War
http://record-eagle.com/letters/x96559178/Letters-to-the-Editor-12-14-2010
                                                       
  ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
•Sent care packages to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
•Participated in Friday night live handouts and face painting.
•Wrote countless letters to the editor.
•Presented memorial displays on Veterans Day & Memorial Day.
•Sent movies to our troops.
•Donated money for the delivery of hay to Texas to a disabled vet.
•Adopted families on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
•Participated in anti-recruitment presence at TC Central.
•Ran full-page awareness ad in the Record Eagle.
•Funded scholarship to a needy descendant of a vet.
•Leads monthly peace walks through downtown TC.
•Sponsored showings of films about veterans at State Theatre.
•Participation in the March on Washington, October 2011.
•Developed a 35 page recruitment education packet and distributed it to high school counselors.
•Donated to homeless shelter for veterans.
•Sent letters to Senate, Congress, & White House.
•Ongoing participation in Occupy Traverse City.








Veterans For Peace

Chapter 50 - Northern Michigan
Tom Emmott letter in The Record Eagle, December 7th 2011:

In reference to the article that appeared in the Business Section of The Record Eagle on Sunday November 27th entitled Grounded? Navy's Blue Angels fly into era of budget questions--I feel strongly that the cost of putting on air shows is not worth the taxpayers money.  I realize that the Blue Angels have been a top draw at the Cherry Festival, however, the F/A 18 fighter jet is a war machine--not entertainment and "the Pentagon spends $37 million for the Blue Angels, whose mission is to enhance recruiting for the Navy and Marines to be their goodwill ambassador.  That's a fraction of the Pentagon's $986 billion annual budget."  I'm sure the Cherry Festival would be better served in providing quality entertainment that is not war related.