https://www.facebook.com/pages/Million-Vet-March-on-the-Memorials/539097822833735?ref=streamMillion Vet March on the MemorialsOfficial statement from the organizers:
Million Vet March on the Memorials · 64,112 like this
Yesterday at 6:00am ·
Dear Americans,
Today you rally here to honor our Veterans. The joy and honor that you display for America's beloved Veterans has touched everyone of us in the Brats For Veterans Advocacy group. 10 Days ago, we asked three things of you: 1) To gather and rally across this great nation, 2) To sign our petition to demand from our government to keep open the memorials for Veterans and 3) do these marches in a peaceful, non-political way. We have sought to facilitate and moderate and keep all Americans that joined our Facebook page and our website working together toward a common cause. It has been one of the toughest weeks of all of our lives! We have heard and dealt with extremists on both sides.
For some, it is hard to separate the politics from the issue at hand. Some will blame the President, some will blame the Congress. Make no mistake about it Americans. We, as Americans, voted everyone of our elected officials into office. We are ALL responsible for this mess. It is up to us, as Americans to correct this mess. We all have opinions, but we need to drop them and get to the business of fixing what is wrong with our government, not what is wrong with America. America is a great nation with people from all over the world and to blame one party, faction or group over another is counter productive to democracy in a Constitutional republic.
Why were Veterans prevented from visiting their memorials and monuments dedicated in their honor? We don't know. We would really like to know the justification for why this was done. However, to us, it is one issue. Monuments, Memorials and Parks dedicated to honor the sacrifices of our American Veterans and their brothers and sisters-in-arms know NO politics.
To shut down the memorials to our Veterans is the greatest dishonor to Americans who have gallantly served on the field of battle and those that have laid down their lives in the ultimate sacrifice for their fellow man for the cause of freedom. It is also of the highest dishonor to those who currently serve, who are under enemy fire every day in battlefields abroad and those military spouses and their children that are left behind. As military brats, we all faced the possibility of one or both of our parents not coming home as a result of military action. It was a huge burden to carry most of our lives.
It is our official position that the purpose of this march and the accompanying rallies is focused on the re-opening of the Veterans memorials and keeping them open. While we understand that a Constitutional republic requires the equilibrium of checks and balances to maintain the democratic process, the memorials, monuments and parks built in honor of Veterans should NEVER be closed, blocked or restricted from use. We take the official position that no government office holder shall have ability to abridge the freedom of access to these hallowed grounds.
We have, as a group, been prevented from certain groups that have piggy-backed off our grassroots efforts, to effectively create a comprehensive media message campaign. We made the mistake of trying to partner with some Washington insiders that thwarted many of our genuine concerns for keeping this apolitical and grassroots. While we support many of those groups common causes for Veterans, we do not support the manner in which they go about it. We chose instead to not incite or create panic.
We chose to listen to all Americans and all Veterans that have asked us to keep going on despite the disingenuous politicians, political action committees, talking heads on the televisions and press reports attempting to hijack the message. This included many threats of personal and political attacks on our group's character, businesses, colleagues and our true intentions. While our hearts were heavy by the disheartening acts of a few powerful Washington elite and political extremists jumping on the opportunity to make money, we decided to stay true to our message of a non-partisan effort to assist Veterans.
We chose to listen to those WWII Veterans that were prevented from accessing the World War II memorial on the first day after the government shutdown. Who, instead of gratitude and thanks for a lifetime of selfless sacrifice, were greeted by barricades, fences and uniformed officers preventing them from enjoying the memorial to them and their fallen comrades. Memorials that are always open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.
We chose to listen to the Korean War Veteran that was suffering from complications of stage 4 cancer telling us "Do not let your spirit be dampened by personal or political attacks. You can choose to stand or fight. Standing does not move you forward. Semper Fi!"
We chose to listen to the Vietnam Veteran's spouse that said to us "I'm sorry but I am disabled. My husband, a Vietnam Veteran, died last year from a long term illness from complications of Agent Orange. I cannot be there but I want you to know that I support you and my husband who I know would support you."
We chose to listen to the Iraqi war Veteran, a double amputee, that stated he would love to go but is instead participating in a 10K race in his hometown to support breast cancer awareness. A person dedicated to selfless service despite his circumstances.
We chose to listen to the Veteran struggling to make ends meet in Nottawa, Michigan that could not afford the gas, food or hotel to get to Washington DC, but will instead support us in our online grassroots efforts in his hometown.
We chose to act for the 5 year old daughter of an active duty member expressing her support; telling us to "March On Brats!"
We chose to act, not simply because we are military brats, but because we are Americans. Americans proud and honored at the sacrifice of all American veterans. To dishonor our Veterans is the same as dishonoring our parents. We are proud to be of service to our parents. We choose not to let them down in this grave time of need.
We were asked many times why we did not come forward and be talking heads for a political group. Well, the answer is simple, we chose not to be part of the Washington politics-as-usual, personal attack behavior that has continuously persisted in this country. We are not politicians, nor will we choose that route.
None of us enjoy being in the spotlight, some of us work in the intelligence community in defense of this country and some our family members work in sensitive government positions. We prefer to live quiet, unassuming lives supporting our families; lives that we have put on hold until this dilemma is fixed. We chose instead to put the spotlight on Veterans and access to their memorials by facilitating and coordinating activities of all supporters of our effort.
At some point in the very near future, we will choose a figurehead for our group to assume a more public profile to talk to the media.
Make no mistake about it. We will do this again. This will not be the only time we assemble peacefully for this cause. We will rally until the change is made. Our voice will only get stronger. Our resolve will only harden. Our love for our Veterans will only deepen.
We will continue to ask for your support on our Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Million-Vet-March-on-the-Memorials/539097822833735 and our Million Vet March site at
http://1mvetmarch.wordpress.com/. We will take up the slack on singularly focused issues where it is needed. And Americans, there is a lot of work to do!
If you are at a rally, we ask that you turn to your left and right and thank each other for their support. If there is a Veteran beside you, thank them from every American. If you are online or on your mobile apps at a rally, share with us your story, pictures and video on our Facebook page at Million Vet March on the Memorials. Flood our Facebook page and our Twitter account at
http://twitter.com/1MVetMarch .
Thank you for your service, sacrifice and selfless support,
Brats For Veterans Adocacy