Join Veterans For Peace to Celebrate Armistice Day on Saturday, November 11th

Over one hundred years ago, in 1918, the world celebrated peace as a universal principle. The first World War had just ended and nations mourning their dead collectively called for an end to all wars. Armistice Day was born and was designated as “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated.”

After World War II, the U.S. Congress decided to rebrand November 11^th as Veterans Day. Honoring the warrior quickly morphed into honoring the military and glorifying war. Armistice Day was flipped from a day for peace into a day for displays of militarism.

Veterans For Peace has taken the lead to lift up the original intent of November 11^th as a day for peace. Veterans know that a day that celebrates peace, not war, is the best way to honor the sacrifices of veterans. They want future generations never to encounter the destruction war has wrought on people and the earth.

Veterans For Peace call on everyone to stand up for peace this Armistice Day. More than ever, the world faces a critical moment. Tensions are heightened around the world and the United States is engaged militarily in multiple countries, without an end in sight.

Here at home Veterans For Peace have seen the increased militarization of police forces, brutal crackdowns on dissent and uprisings against state power. They recommend the government end reckless military interventions that endanger the entire world. They support building a culture of peace.

This Armistice Day, Veterans For Peace call on the public to say “No” to more war and to demand justice and peace at home and abroad. They know “Peace Is Possible” and call for an end to all oppressive and violent policies and for equality for all people.

Veterans For Peace has suggestions for actions on Saturday, November 11^th.

Locally,

Additional actions to take:

Educate yourself on the history and importance of Armistice Day. https://www.veteransforpeace.org/take-action/armistice-day

Download and hang the Armistice Day Poster in your front window or anywhere else you feel it would be most visible to others. https://www.veteransforpeace.org/files/9216/0088/6147/Final_AD_Poster_PDF.pdf

Host a silent vigil. Invite others to join you to stand in silence for eleven minutes at 11 a.m. at a highly trafficked area in your city.

Ring Bells for Peace. Ask local churches, community centers and schools to ring their bells at 11 a.m.

Read Poems and Stories. Host an event and ask speakers to share their favorite poem or story about peace.

Send Letters to the Editor. Write from the heart and tell them why you think November 11th must be a day for peace.

Contact your local elected officials to create a city or county proclamation in support of Armistice Day.

Share on Social Media. Share your photos with the hashtag #ReclaimArmisticeDay.

Take action to end forever wars. Updated calls to action are listed at www.veteransforpeace.org.

Find more suggestions on the Veterans For Peace website. https://www.veteransforpeace.org/take-action/armistice-day

Below is an extensive list of upcoming events that you may want to participate in or take action during this busy time of the year. Please mark your calendars!

Friday, November 3rd from noon to 1 pm MT *** NEW LOCATION DUE TO RECONSTRUCTION OF GUADALUPE BRIDGE. *** Join the weekly peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament on the corners of Alameda and Sandoval in downtown Santa Fe with Veterans for Peace, CCNS, Nuclear Watch NM, Loretto Community, Pax Christi, Nonviolent Santa Fe, and others.

Monday, November 6^th by 5 pm MT – Get your comments in to support the New Mexico Environment Department’s recommendation to excavate the LANL dump, MDA C. For more information and to access sample public comment letters you can use and modify, go to: http://nuclearactive.org/comments-to-nmed-needed-in-support-of-excavation-of-lanl-dump-c-by-november-6th/ and http://nuclearactive.org/new-mexico-environment-department-recommends-excavation-of-lanls-material-disposal-area-c/

Wednesday, November 8^th virtual conference on Nuclear Weapons and International Law – The Renewed Imperative in Light of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine from 9 am to 6 pm ET. Sponsored by the New York Bar Association, International Section. https://nysba.org/events/nuclear-weapons-and-international-law-the-renewed-imperative-in-light-of-the-ukraine-war/

Thursday, November 9^th by 5 pm MT – Comments due on the draft Community Relations Plan for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). https://wipp.energy.gov/community-outreach.asp

Saturday, November 11^th Armistice Day (also known as Veterans’ Day) in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

In Albuquerque: The Albuquerque Veterans For Peace will celebrate Armistice Day at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial at 1100 Louisiana Blvd. SE in Albuquerque, New Mexico, typically from 9:00 to 11:00 AM.

In Santa Fe: Join VFP, colleagues and allies on the Santa Fe Plaza at 10:45 a.m. The Archdiocese will ring the Cathedral bells 11 times beginning at 11 a.m. Other bell ringing is planned along with moments of silence.

Thursday, November 16^th from 5:30 – 8 pm – virtual and in-person public meeting about the Kirtland AFB Bulk Fuels Facility Project at New Mexico Veterans Memorial, 1100 Louisiana Blvd. SE. Community members may review Air Force Environmental Restoration Program documents by visiting the Kirtland AFB website at https://www.kirtland.af.mil/Home/Environment/ or the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center Administrative Record website AF Administrative Record. If you would like additional information, please contact 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs at (505) 846-5991 or by email, 377ABW.PA@us.af.mil

Friday, November 17^th – Saturday, November 18^th – New Mexico Acequia Association 24^th Annual Congreso de las Acequias at the Sagebrush Inn, Taos. https://lasacequias.org/congreso/

Sunday, November 26^th – Global Day of Action Against Nuclear Weapons – Message from the Int’l Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN):

“As governments, experts and campaigners get ready for a week of building on the treaty banning nuclear weapons, join the international day of action to call for an end to nuclear weapons and bring attention to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)! All around the world, people will be taking action to show the delegations in New York that we expect them to be bold, courageous and use the TPNW to dismantle nuclear deterrence, and make sure the rest of the world is paying attention to this crucial opportunity.”

Funding may be available. Add your action to the international calendar at: https://www.icanw.org/2msp_global_day_of_action

Monday, November 27^th to Friday, December 1^st – Second Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (2MSP) at UN Headquarters in New York City. https://www.icanw.org/tpnw_second_meeting_of_states_parties and https://meetings.unoda.org/tpnw/tpnw-msp-2023