Veterans For Peace – Western North Carolina

Greetings All,

Thanks to the many who attended our Memorial Day Observance. Thanks, as well, to all who participated in making it happen! Thanks, too, for everyone who thought about attending but could not. We need, and appreciate, every scintilla of positive spirit as we work toward a world beyond war.

Below, you will see images of the Observance Program, site signage, excerpts from what was said, and additional program information we didn’t have time to speak about. Ninety minutes is a lot, but not nearly enough to cover the tragic stupidity of war and militarism which is central to VFP’s mission to educate our communities about. It was a beautiful day with beautiful people.

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• Gathering Music – Billy Jonas
• Welcoming Remarks – Gerry 

We will grieve the true costs of war and militarism, but within the limits of the time we have available. To paraphrase a VFP colleague, ‘war and militarism’ in America is something ‘we all breathe in like air.’ Historians who compile comprehensive timelines (including the Congressional Research Service’s records of instances where U.S. military forces were deployed abroad) note that there are fewer than 20 calendar years in total since 1776 where U.S. forces were not engaged in some form of active operation, enforcement, or policing action globally or domestically.

Our priority will first and foremost be on the most obvious and tragic cost of war: the loss of human life.

But first we will be building community so we can do what’s needed for change.

• Celebrating Community – Meet & Greet Among Ourselves – We Cannot Afford To Be Strangers
• Music – Billy
• Grieving Those Who Have Died Because of War – The Reluctant Soldier – Gerry

“For many years I’ve felt uneasy about American society’s observance of Memorial Day, particularly the glorification of war with the plentiful use of such words as, ‘fighting’, ‘freedom’ and ‘hero’. Certainly, there are many, many instances when those words are relevant to the sacrifices made by those who went to war and never came back. In preparation to deliver an ‘invocation of the spirit’ to my church community on the Sunday before Memorial Day, and then to preside over the Memorial Day observance hosted by Veterans For Peace – Western North Carolina, I came across these words. They convey a balance of recognizing that there is loss, but no glory, in war and encouraging our resolve to work for peace.

Reluctant Soldier Meditation

     For the reluctant soldier, and all of us, Memorial Day is an inherently complex observance. It is a time to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice without necessarily celebrating the machinery of war. 

     We bring to mind the men and women who died while serving—particularly those who carried a profound reluctance. They did not necessarily march toward battle with blind patriotism; they carried the heavy, complex weight of doing what was asked of them in a broken world. We acknowledge their sacrifice not as an endorsement of the politics that sent them, but as a pure, tragic testament to human loyalty. They gave up their tomorrows so others might have the space to live, love, and question. We honor their memory by holding their humanity with deep compassion.

     True honor lies not in glorifying the violence of the past, but in dedicating ourselves to the peace of the future. Reluctant warriors understand the devastating, real cost of conflict. Let this Memorial Day meditation be a personal commitment to building a world where fewer people are forced to become soldiers. 

     Take a deep breath in, drawing in strength and clarity.

     As you exhale, slowly open your eyes. Carry this quiet reverence, deep compassion for the fallen, and dedication to peace with you as you move forward into the rest of your days.

     May it be so.”

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• Roll Call (Response to Each Name Spoken: “PRESENTE!”)  Twenty-One Names Were Spoken.

The chant of “¡Presente!” (meaning “Present!” or “Here!”) is one of the most powerful and enduring traditions in Latin American social movements and global solidarity activism. When the name of a deceased person is read aloud, the crowd responds with a resounding “¡Presente!”—symbolizing that though the person is physically gone, their spirit, ideas, and struggle remain alive within the community. Its origins are deeply rooted in classroom roll calls, labor organizing, and the harrowing resistance to mid-20th-century dictatorships.

• Individual Remembrances Seven Remembrances Were Spoken.
• Prose and Poetry

• “In Flanders Fields” with Music – Bob Feldmann
• “For Res” – Aweed
• “A Veteran Died Today” – Tana Suddreth
• The Playing of Taps – David Smith

1874: “Taps” was officially recognized by the U.S. Army.

1891: The U.S. Army Infantry Drill Regulations officially mandated that “Taps” be played at all military funeral ceremonies

After Taps, Transition to…

The costs of war and militarism are far-reaching, extending well beyond the immediate casualties on a battlefield.

 US Deaths Vietnam Through Epic Fury: 65,679 | US Suicides 2001 Through 2025: 141,000 (17 a DAY)

According to the research from the Costs of War Project at Brown University, it is estimated that over 432,000 civilians have been directly killed by post-9/11 war violence. (According to the most recent census, 422,000 fellow humans live in the four-county area that includes Asheville.)

Based on the perspectives from Veterans For Peace and broader socio-economic analysis, these costs can be categorized into several critical areas:

1. Human and Psychological Toll

The most immediate cost is the loss of life and the physical wounding of both combatants and civilians. However, the “invisible” wounds are often just as devastating:

• Moral Injury and PTSD: Many veterans experience profound regret and psychological trauma from participating in what they may later view as “wars of choice” or “wars of aggression.”
• Impact on Families: The strain of deployment and the long-term care required for wounded veterans place an immense burden on domestic support systems.

More Info: 

What is Moral Injury? | Military Families Speak Out | Peace Education Program for Veterans

2. Economic Opportunity Costs

Militarism diverts massive amounts of federal funding away from domestic needs. This is an “opportunity cost”—for every dollar spent on military hardware, that same dollar is unavailable for:

• Infrastructure: Repairing roads, bridges, and public transit.
• Education and Healthcare: Funding schools, student loan relief, or universal healthcare initiatives.
• Climate Action: Investing in green energy to combat environmental degradation.

More Info: What could the US be spending the $29 billion* on instead of the war on Iran?

*That was the latest number reported by the Pentagon as of Memorial Day. It is certainly much, much more than that.

Reallocating $29 billion away from military interventions and foreign conflicts—such as the massive costs associated with operations regarding Iran—could profoundly transform domestic infrastructure, community resilience, and social programs.

Organizations like the National Priorities Project track these “opportunity costs” of war, showing how discretionary federal funds can be redirected. Based on federal budget data, community grant allocations, and economic trade-off analyses, here is what a $29 billion investment could alternatively fund: (Just one category of many examples.)

Human & Social Infrastructure Trade-offs

According to cost-of-war trade-off metrics, $29 billion in federal discretionary spending can be translated into vital healthcare and food security programs:

• Healthcare Expansion: It could fund healthcare coverage for roughly 7.5 to 8 million low-income individuals through Medicaid for an entire year.
• Food Security: It could fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for over 12 million families for a year, drastically reducing food insecurity across American communities.
• Veteran Support Services: Instead of generating a new generation of veterans with moral injuries and PTSD, these funds could be poured directly into the VA to address the veteran suicide crisis, improve local VA medical centers, and process claims backlog.

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The Big Picture: When federal spending is locked into a “war economy,” communities face the invisible burden of neglected infrastructure and stripped social programs. Reallocating $29 billion represents a direct choice to shift funding away from international conflict and toward building a sustainable, healthy, and peaceful domestic future.

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3. Legal and Ethical Costs

The current discourse highlights the legal and ethical ramifications of modern warfare:

• Illegal Orders: There is a significant ethical cost to military personnel who are placed in positions where they must choose between following orders and adhering to international law.
• See more at: Talking Points Against US War in Iran
• Erosion of Civil Liberties: Increased militarization often leads to the “militarization of federal agents” and the use of combat-style tactics in domestic settings.
• See more regarding ICE Operations: ICE Out of Our Cities Call to Action

4. Environmental Impact

The military is one of the world’s largest consumers of fossil fuels. War leads to:

• Direct Destruction: Modern warfare devastates ecosystems, pollutes water sources, and leaves behind toxic remnants (like depleted uranium or unexploded ordnance).
• Carbon Footprint: The manufacturing and operation of military equipment contribute significantly to global carbon emissions.

More Info: Watch This Trailer:  Earth’s Greatest Enemy

Already Screened in Asheville Recently With More Screenings Here Expected.

Well Worth the Rental Fee to Watch It ASAP… The Proceeds Will Help The Producers Cover Their Costs.

Build Community! Watch It At Home With Friends & Family!

5. Global Instability

Rather than providing security, critics argue that aggressive militarism often yields:

• Regime Change Consequences: As seen in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, wars for regime change frequently result in long-term instability and the deaths of millions of civilians.
• Diplomatic Erosion: A reliance on military force can undermine diplomatic efforts and international cooperation.

More Information: Simply watch, listen and read Iran War and world coverage from reputable news sources.

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Closing Remarks

• Thank you for coming out this morning.
• Please utilize the resources noted in your program to know more about the true costs of war & militarism.
• Take Action!
• Join Us?!
• Thanks to all who contributed.
• There will be a bit more music. Please linger a bit in community if you can.
• Go in PEACE!