Veterans delegation to Vieques
Vietnam Veterans Against the War
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Hello folks --
Here's the update on the Veterans Delegation to Vieques
which left today for Puerto Rico ...
The island sponsors for the delegation are the Proyecto Caribeno
de Justicia Y Paz, Veteranos Por La Paz (Puerto Rico Chapter),
and Todo Puerto Rico Con Vieques. The island coordinator is Vietnam
veteran Carlos Zayas of Guynabo (U.S. Army, 1st Aviation Brigade).
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Delegation itinerary
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Arrival Wednesday, March 15
Meet with host organizations to discuss agenda and expectations
Talk by by Jorge Rodriguez Beruff and Alejandro Torres Rivera
on "Puerto Rico: Military Colony"
Thursday, March 16
Talk by attorneys Juan Nazario, Fermin Arraiza, Wilma Reveron,
and Jorge Fernandez Porto on "Vieques: 60 Years of Bombardments
and Contamination-Human, Legal and Environmentalists Aspects."
Press Conference
Meet with politicians and legislators (Sila Calderon, Carlos
Pesquera, Victor Garcia San Inocencio, Carlos Vizcarrondo).
Socio-cultural exchange activity with members of environmentalist,
union, and political organizations, etc.
Friday, March 17
Depart for Vieques
Tour with Robert Rabin, director of Historical Archives of Vieques,
Vieques/Museum/Fort Conde Marisol
Talk by Ismael Guadalupe and Dr. Rafael Rivera Castano, on
"Vieques island and Its People" .
Visits to Camp Campamento de Resistencia, Justicia Y Paz
Dinner meeting with: Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques,
Alianza de Mujeres Viequenses, Juventud Viequenses Unida,
Asociacion de Pescadores, Fideicomiso de Conservacion e Historia
de Vieques, and civic, political and religious leaders.
Saturday, March 18
Tour Rescued Zones and Bombardment Areas to meet with people in
civil disobedience camps and visit impact zones. Camps: Monte
David, Playa Gilberto Concepcion (Partido Independentista de PR
Camp); Campamento del Concilio Evangelico, Campamento Federacion
de Maestros, Campamento del Congreso Nacional Hostosiano, and
Campamento Todo Puerto Rico Con Vieques. (The delegation will
sleep at the camps).
Sunday, March 19
Return to rescued zones.
Monday, March 20
Press Conference To Discuss the Delegation's Experiences During
Their Visit and Their Findings
Departure Tuesday, March 21
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Delegation members
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David Cline is the lead organizer of the Veterans Support
Vieques initiative. He is a disabled Vietnam veteran who served
as a rifleman with the Army's 25th Infantry Division in 1967.
He has a Combat Infantryman's Badge, three Purple Hearts, and
a Bronze Star. He is president of the Jersey City Vietnam Veterans
Memorial Committee, a national coordinator of Vietnam Veterans
Against the War, Inc., co-chair of New Jersey Veterans for Peace,
and belongs to several other veterans organizations. He has held
positions in several unions. He lives in Jersey City, New Jersey,
and has two children.
Anthony Guarisco served in the United States Navy during and after
the second World War. After service in the South Pacific 1944-6,
he took part in "Operation Crossroads," the atom bomb tests at
Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, and then served off Korea
with the 32nd Destroyer Division 1946-7. He is a member of the
Alliance of Atomic Veterans and the National Association of
Radiation Survivors. He lives in Topock, Arizona.
Gideon Rosenbluth served in the United States Army 1942-5, and saw
action in four campaigns, including North Africa and the Arno
River in Italy. He is active in his local retirees association of
the United Auto Workers. He lives in Queens, New York.
Carlos Vazquez served in the United States Army 1967-70, including
a tour in Korea with the 2nd Division. He works for the municipal
government of Jersey City, New Jersey, and is the vice-president
of Public Employees Union Local 246. Born in Cayey, Puerto Rico,
he lives in Jersey City. He has two children.
Jaime Vazquez served in the United States Marine Corps 1966-9,
including a tour on Vieques in 1967, and a tour in Vietnam with
the 1st Marine Division (1967-8), during which he received a
Purple Heart. He has been a City Councilman (1985-97) and Deputy
Mayor (1997-9) in Jersey City, New Jersey. He is currently the
United Nations Representative of the non-governmental organization
International Nuclear Free Zone. Also born in Cayey, Puerto Rico,
he also now lives in Jersey City, New Jersey. He has three
children and two grandchildren.
Steve Williams served in the United States Army 1974-77. He is the
Deputy Director of Black Veterans for Social Justice, Inc., a non-
profit organization which provides services to homeless and other
veterans. He is also the chair of the Veterans Continuum of Care
Network. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, and has two children.
Accompanying the delegation as photographer is Dan Steiger. He
resisted the draft during the Vietnam War, and has long been active
around peace and veterans issues. He lives on New York's Long
Island.
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Relayed to VVAW-Net by Ben Chitty USN 65-9 VN 66-7 68 NY/VVAW
mailto:ab...@cunyvm.cuny.edu - http://www.prairienet.org/vvaw