Author
~Bradley
On November 11, a few hundred people gathered at the Clock Tower in downtown Santa Cruz to recognize Veteran's Day and speak out for Peace. I had the opportunity to interact with Lynn Sears and Stephanie Sears Riffey in the discussion of the life of their father, Francis Robert Seymour, a Veteran of two wars.
You can stream or download an audio compilitation.
<< link to audio >>
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/media/all/display/1955/index.php
<< link to article >>
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/feature/display/6307
On November 11, a few hundred people gathered at the Clock Tower in downtown Santa Cruz to recognize Veteran's Day and speak out for Peace. I had the opportunity to interact with Lynn Sears and Stephanie Sears Riffey in the discussion of the life of their father, Francis Robert Seymour, a Veteran of two wars who returned home from his second war, a war in Korea, diagnosed by the U.S. government as having a "nervous disorder." Lynn and Stephanie want the U.S. military dominance to stop and do not understand why the U.S. military government continues to attempt to force their agenda on other countries in the world. Lynn and Stephanie want to encourage us to take the country back from the corporate military government complex.
Sherry Conable, a dedicated Santa Cruz activist and daughter of a WWII Veteran, helped organize the Veteran's Day commemoration as the Matriot of Ceremonies. Sherry discussed the need to be accepting to all peoples in our lives, especially young males.
Santa Cruz's very own Raging Grannies took to the mic for a couple of numbers foretelling to removal of Georgy Bush. Ruth hunter, another well respected, long time Santa Cruz activist, delivered a strong condemnation of U.S. foreign policy and led the crowd in a call to Bring our Troops Home Now.
Folk artist Santa Cruz Woody performed an original tune he wrote after a rocket killed 16 people aboard a U.S. heliocopter a couple of weeks ago. Woody then led the crowd in a sing-a-long. I went home after Sherry relayed the story of a young Iranian man serving time in the U.S. military who has been stationed in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Since this young man is not a U.S. citizen, his potential death would not count as an American death.
You can stream or download an audio compilitation which includes my discussion with Lynn (pictured above holding a photo of her father) and her sister Stephanie, songs from Santa Cruz's Raging Grannies and folk artist Santa Cruz Woody, as well a speech by Ruth Hunter and some words from Sherry Conable.
People of Santa Cruz have sent out love and best wishes to families in Santa Cruz and families throughout the world that have family members serving in a military.
I feel fortunate to be a part of this community which speaks out for Peace.
~Bradley
E-mail
bradley (at) riseup.net