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ARMISTICE DAY/ WORLD UNITY DAY (Veterans Day) NEWSLETTER #11, NOVEMBER 11, 2017
WE, THE PEOPLE BUILDING A CULTURE OF PEACE AND JUSTICE FOR THE PLANET. Compiled by Dick Bennett
Contents: Armistice Day Newsletter #11, Nov. 11, 2017
(Memorial Day commiserates with those who died serving this country while engaged in war. Veterans Day celebrates everybody who wore a military uniform (if you knew some of the people I knew in the military you would be more selective in your celebration.. We should replace both of these promotions of war, but Veterans Day is particularly pro-war, jingoistic, and imperialistic.)
Reporting Veterans Day (VD) in the NWADG
Reporting Armistice Day (AD) Around the Nation
Mobilization to Stop War in N. Korea
Christine Ahn Interviewed by Amy Goodman on Democracy Now!
About North Korea
About North Korea
Anti-War Movement 2017
World Beyond War (WBW)
Veterans for Peace (VFP)
Dick’s Anti-War Newsletters
Armistice Day 2016
Nov. 11 and 12: Towns, UAF, Schools, Churches, Newspaper
Nov. 13
Kurt Vonnegut’s Birthday, author of Slaughterhouse Five
Contents: Armistice Day 2016 Newsletter #10
REPORTING VETERANS DAY (VD) IN THE NWADG
In the NW Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (NWADG) VD starts a week earlier.
11-5 “Chorus.” The Bella Vista Chorus will present a VD concert joined by the BV Men’s Chorus, “Perfect Harmony,” and the Bentonville HS Chamber Choir. The concert will raise money for the National Cemetery in Fayetteville and the Veterans Wall of Honor in BV. (The cemetery has expanded considerably, land had to be purchased, houses demolished. The Wall is an large, expensive reinforcement of the patriotism in the area.)
“Veterans Assembly Set.” Notice of VD events for 11-6 at SW Junion HS: speeches, performances, “letters from the heart” by students, and a brunch honoring vets.
“A Salute to Those Who Serve” in the Parade special section, photo of soldier receive Medal of Honor and text on Medal of Honor winners, for whom a new museum will open in 2021 at Patriots Point, S.C.
“Veterans Day Program Friday.” The local community college NWACC will host a VD program where Home4 Dinner will give away a “one-time dinner or grocery gift card,” and more
“Legion.” Announcement of future visit of National Commander of the American Legion (the first woman elected). She will visit the Veterans’ Hospital and Post 27 in Fayetteville. The motto of the American Legion: “For God and Country.” (For those of you who disagree with this religious nationalism, God and the USA, speak up. And America? The USA is not America. There is N. America, C. America, and S. America, and all of the countries therein are part of the Americas. We can choose to say accurately US instead of America(n).)
“Community Honors Vets.” Branson, MO receives two page in the special section “What’s Up” for their thirteen VD events Nov. 5-Nov. 12 and a full-page color ad “Branson Honors Veterans Every Day.” (Beat that if you can! Our economic system will commodify anything and everything for profit every day!)
11-6 (the first I saw it) and appearing each day: “Honor a Veteran” urging readers to send a Letter to the Editor praising a veteran.
11-7 Two photos “Honoring Veterans”: US Flag in foreground, Junior High Future Farmers of America reciting the Pledge of Allegiance during Southwest Junior High’s Veterans Day Ceremony; a Korean War veteran who was awarded a Purple Heart during the Korean War spoke.
11-9 Photo of auditorium packed with children with musician in foreground playing Taps on a flugelhorn.
3” news in “Thursday’s Thumbs” reporting theft of funds by 2 officers of Legion Post 77 in Bentonville. One officer pleaded guilty of stealing $40,000 and was punished with 10 years probation. The other officer is scheduled for trial. The crimes were committed in 2015.
11-10 “Veterans Day.” Calendar of upcoming events today: Ceremony at NWACC, Rogers; Marine Corps Birthday Ball in Springdale. Saturday 11th: VD Parade Lowell.
The daily promotions of VD and invitations to send LTE paid off. Six letters were published on the 10th celebrating warriors, war, and patriotism: 1) “Happy birthday, Marines!” 2) “Thank you, veterans, and hang in there.” 3) “proudly wear the nation’s uniform” 4) “We salute all…veterans in our area. God Bless.” 5) “”give a respectful salute” 6) “the military may be your answer.”
“Pearl Harbor Survivor Advises: ‘Keep America Strong.’” Vet from MO, 104, “helps Fayetteville medical center” observe VD. (The security mania of the country is well expressed in this report, representing most of the 22 million veterans after so many wars. No wonder the US administrations and congressional reps. are pro-Pentagon and so eager to increase the already swollen military budget. –D)
“Military Caregivers Carry Weight.” Review of film about five wives and one mother who struggle to take of [wounded] soldiers.”
“WWI’s Memorial Still on Slow Track.” (This report on the monument designed by a graduate of UAF’s Architecture School for the D.C. Mall is not specifically about VD, but is about the War to End All Wars that, I believe, should be remembered by its original title for peace: ARMISTICE DAY. –Dick)
Celebration of Warriors is what you read about for Veterans Day. Were it Armistice Day, here is what is more likely, or at least a little!
2017 NOVEMBER 6-11 MOBILIZATION TO STOP WAR ON KOREA
I do not know exactly why the originators of this Mobilization began on Nov. 6, but perhaps it was because the patriotic Veterans Day now begins several days before Nov. 11, a day the name of which should return to ARMISTICE DAY. As you foresaw, this mobilization was not reported in the NWADG.
Christine Ahn on US Tensions with North Korea: More South Koreans Fear Donald Trump Than Kim Jong-un
TOPICS
GUESTS
founder and executive director of Women Cross DMZ, a global movement of women mobilizing to end the Korean War.
This is viewer supported news. Please do your part today.
We continue our look at North Korea, where tensions continue to mount with the United States, and President Trump is slated to leave later this week for a 12-day visit to Asia. A month ago, Donald Trump publicly undermined efforts by the U.S. to open direct talks with North Korea over the country’s nuclear weapons program. A day after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the U.S. has two or three back channels open to North Korea’s leadership and that he was pursuing dialogue, Trump responded to the news, tweeting, “I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man… …Save your energy Rex, we’ll do what has to be done!” Trump has previously threatened to unleash “fire and fury” on North Korea, and told the U.N. General Assembly he was prepared to destroy the entire nation of 25 million people. We are joined by Christine Ahn, the founder and executive director of Women Cross DMZ, a global movement of women mobilizing to end the Korean War.
Transcript
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. I’m Amy Goodman, with Nermeen Shaikh, with Part 2 of our discussion about U.S.-North Korea relations with Christine Ahn. MORE https://www.democracynow.org/2017/10/30/christine_ahn_on_us_tensions_with
National Mobilization to Stop Trump War on North Korea, Google Search, November 2, 2017
https://www.womencrossdmz.org/web/wp.../171009_WCDMZ_WEB_FINAL.pdf
It's time for the U.S. peace movement to mobilize opposition to Trump's saber rattling and demand a diplomatic solution. Trump has threatened, “to totally destroy ...
https://www.womencrossdmz.org/web/wp.../10/National-Mobilization-FINAL.pdf
Stop Trump Wag ... It's time for the U.S. peace movement to mobilize ... for war. In response, NorthKorea says it has the right to shoot down U.S. strategic ...
https://mupj.org/.../national-mobilization-to-stop-war-on-north-korea-and-end-nuclea...
6 days ago - National Mobilization to Stop War on North Korea And End Nuclear Weapons Maryland Action in Baltimore 11 a.m., November 11, 2017 Trump ...
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_950tHhxfQF6-qgT0Z-iZFw
Oct 18, 2017 - It's time for the U.S. anti-war and peace movements to mobilize mass ... North Korea has threatened to test an atmospheric nuclear weapon and ...
https://www.democracynow.org/2017/10/30/christine_ahn_on_us_tensions_with
3 days ago - Christine is founder and executive director of Women Cross DMZ, a global movement of women mobilizing to end the Korean War, joining us ...
2017 ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT
10-18-17
The antiwar movement worldwide will be heard when people hold events in towns and cities everywhere to mark Armistice / Remembrance day on November 11th.
Can you plan a local event? Can we help you do so?
Let us know about any event you’re planning. We’ll list it on our events page, and in the calendar on the right side of our website. And we’ll email everyone on our list who lives in your area asking them to attend. We’ll also email your local media outlets if you’d like us to.
We are eager to help you hold a World Beyond War event anywhere you are in the world — or to help add to whatever event you have planned.
Check out the speakers in our speakers bureau. You may want to invite one or more of them to speak — in person or via live or recorded video. We can make something work!
Use the videos and ideas from our online study and action guide: Study War No More!
Documentary filmmakers Alice & Lincoln Day have generously offered to waive a Community Screening Licensing fee ($89 savings) through November 11th (Armistice Day) to all World Beyond War members. The waiver allows members to host a public screening for up to 200 people, with permission to charge admission, and raise funds at the events through other avenues. To Request Waiver: Email Margaret Poindexter at mpoindexter5300 [AT] gmail [DOT] com with “Waiver Request” in the subject line. See also: Scarred Lands Film Clips and Scarred Lands Companion Shorts.
Numerous successful events have already been held that have screened some of our other recently recorded videos, such as these:
· Money Video.
We can also work with you to help prepare you to make a World Beyond War presentation yourself! Are you or would you like to be a public speaker? Contact us for assistance!
Speaking about ending war can be quite easy, informative, and entertaining if you use one of these power point or prezi slide presentations:
· WBW Prezi (Prepare for your event with this Prezi using these resources: the prezi in a PDF and in-depth information to present with the prezi: PDF.)
· A Global Security System Power Point (Ideal to accompany an event focused on this book, but can also stand on its own.)
· Is Peace Possible? Power Point by Russ Faure-Brac. (Also in older version of Power Point.)
· Psychopathy and Propaganda Power Point by Coleen Rowley. (Also in older version of Power Point.)
How to do a Penny Poll that lets people determine what they’d like the public budget to look like.
A PDF presentation on nuclear weapons thanks to Evan Knappenberger.
How to make peace dolls.
How an event can build a movement:
Use flyers, sign-up cards, sign-up sheets. You can let every person at your event sign the peace pledge and indicate how they’d like to be involved. You can use your sign-up sheets to build your local email list and to build World Beyond War’s — Just type the info in on the peace pledge page or into a spread sheet that you email to WBW, or photograph the sheets and email us that, or mail hardcopies to World Beyond War, PO Box 1484, Charlottesville VA 22902, USA.
Use flyers, sign-up cards, sign-up sheets. You can let every person at your event sign the peace pledge and indicate how they’d like to be involved. You can use your sign-up sheets to build your local email list and to build World Beyond War’s — Just type the info in on the peace pledge page or into a spread sheet that you email to WBW, or photograph the sheets and email us that, or mail hardcopies to World Beyond War, PO Box 1484, Charlottesville VA 22902, USA.
How an event can raise funds for your local group and/or World Beyond War:
Wear sky blue scarves and bracelets. Contact WBW here about getting a supply of scarves and/or buttons and/or books to use for raising funds for WBW. And collect donations.
Wear sky blue scarves and bracelets. Contact WBW here about getting a supply of scarves and/or buttons and/or books to use for raising funds for WBW. And collect donations.
You can also buy a supply of shirts, stickers, cups, etc. and resell them at cost or for profit. More cool shirts and sweatshirts here.
Here’s a sign you can modify and use that offers people buttons, scarves, and books for various levels of donations.
Here’s a form for keeping track of people who need to have free books mailed to them by WBW.
Here are receipts for people who make donations to WBW and request a receipt.
These resources may be useful too:
Sign the Declaration of Peace.
Find events all over the world that you can take part in.
Join us on Facebook and Twitter.
Support World Beyond War's work by clicking here.
Find events all over the world that you can take part in.
Join us on Facebook and Twitter.
Support World Beyond War's work by clicking here.
VETERANS FOR PEACE Friday, October 13, 2017 Veterans For Peace calls on all members and all peace-loving people to take a stand for peace this Armistice (aka Veterans Day), Saturday November 11. We call for nationally coordinated local actions to demand diplomacy not war with North Korea, and the abolition of nuclear weapons and war. Veterans For Peace joins with the wider peace movement for actions before and after November 11th. Veterans For Peace calls for the observance of Veterans Day to be in keeping with the holiday’s original intent as Armistice Day, to be “a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace," as it was celebrated at the ending of World War I when the world came together to recognize the need for lasting peace. After World War II, the U.S. Congress decided to re-name November 11 as Veterans Day. Honoring the warriors quickly morphed into honoring the military and glorifying war. Armistice Day, as a result, has been flipped from a day for peace into a day for displays of militarism. Check out our website for some ideas! Let us know what you have planned here! |
OMNI ANTI-WAR NEWSWLETTERS
Anti-War Newsletter #5, December 19, 2016
#6 is on Anti-war Music
#7 is in preparation
Many other newsletters oppose war—e.g. North Korea, Nuclear Weapons Abolition, Drones, Russia.
NORTH KOREA NEWSLETTER #7, October 29, 2017
#8 in preparation
WHAT HAPPENED 2016 ARMISTICE DAY
Celebrating War on Veterans Day 11-11-16 AND 11-12-16 in Fayetteville, AR. Let Ms. Marple be our guide: “There’s something missing you know.” The stories being told need questioning and the stories not told need to be told. Studying all texts: what’s there and what’s not.
Corporate Support of Vets
“Wal-Mart Says Hires of Vets at 153,000.” NADG (11-12-16). As part of its “Veterans Welcome Home program,” W-M claimed it had hired this number of vets “since Memorial Day 2013.” Its goal is “250,000…by 2020.”
“Visiting Veterans.” NADG (11-12-16). Photo-op with this caption: “Doug McMillon, Wal-Mart chief executive officer, talks Friday with veterans following a Veterans Day ceremony at the company’s home office in Bentonville.”
Commodification of VD (all patriotic Days are cash cows for the business community)
1 full-page ad “Honoring All Who Served,” paid for by 14 businesses plus one ad in “loving memory” of a dead veteran. Some of the businesses’ messages: “God Bless America,” “Thank you for the sacrifices you have made for our country.” “Honoring Our Heroes Everyday.” “With Respect, honor, and Gratitude to our Veterans. Thank you!” Separately two more examples of possibly a dozen total: Dillard’s ad “Veterans Day Savings Throughout the Store!”; Kohl’s ad “Veterans Day Doorbusters.”
Pentagon Public Relations
Dave Perozek. “Rogers Veteran Tells Students About War.” NADG (11-12-16). Photo of a Marine war correspondent Corporal severely injured by an improvised explosive device speaking at Heritage High School Veterans’ Day assembly. His inspirational theme was :you have the power to choose how you respond” to traumas.
Veterans Administration Ceremony
Two photos with explanations of vet organizations recognizing vets , including one of a vet and a 7 year-old boy holding their right hand over their heart during the religious invocation. The Arkansas commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart assisted in presenting the Honorable Order of Saint Martin award to a WWII vet.
Second Nursing Home for Veterans to Open
Eric Besson. “Ceremony Celebrates Vets Home.” NADG (11-12-16). With the home in Fayetteville providing 108 beds and the new NLR home 96, the total beds of state-run nursing centers comes to 204. But according to a VA study, that’s fewer than “one-third of the est. 653 beds needed statewide.” The new home cost $24 million. In addition to the nursing homes, “the state VA maintains two cemeteries and, from regional offices, assists the state’s 250,000 veterans to access federal Veterans Affairs benefits.”
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Arkansas Designated State's First Purple Heart University
Arkansas Designated State's First Purple Heart University
Nov. 11, 2016
For its efforts supporting the military community and veterans, the University of Arkansas has been designated as a "Purple Heart University" by the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
As the first university in the state awarded with the distinction by the national organization, the University of Arkansas joins a distinguished list of 26 Purple Heart University institutions across the nation. A proclamation from the Military Order of the Purple Heart will be read by Arkansas Chancellor Joseph E. Steinmetz during halftime ceremonies of the LSU-Arkansas football game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. . . .
Also in attendance to Saturday's matchup against the Tigers will be about 50 members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and their guests. It will be the largest gathering of Arkansas Purple Heart recipients on Arkansas soil and attending a Razorbacks athletics event.
Their attendance was made possible by a generous donation from Subway owners of Northwest Arkansas, who proudly support both Razorback Athletics and the nation's armed forces.
Subway owners of Northwest Arkansas said they are excited to honor the sacrifice of our veterans, particularly the state's Purple Heart recipients. The owners said while this opportunity is but a small gesture compared to the sacrifices the brave men and women who serve our country make on a daily basis, Subway is proud to be a part of this special Purple Heart recipient salute.
This item could have been placed in the Commodification category. The news item, published in the UAF’s daily news bulletin, included a huge graphic of Subway. Here is also a good example of the close relationship throughout the USA of corporations and education, which explains why writers increasingly add, to Eisenhower’s famous reference to the military-industrial complex, Congress (stated in his draft) and education, where much of the conditioning for militarism occurs.]
Adkins, said an estimated 2.1-2.3 million Americans have received a Purple Heart in conflicts dating as far back as World War I. . . . [This is a boomerang assertion. The Purple Heart advocates are proud of this statistic, while many others see it as revealing the sorrowful history of the US Warfare State.]
Today, the Purple Heart is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has been wounded, killed, or has died after being wounded while serving against a declared enemy of the United States. [There’s ambiguity in this final clause, for few of the 30 or 40 wars initiated by the US since WWI were founded upon the Constitutional requirement of a war declaration. Most US wars have been illegal and unnecessary.]
Short Takes Video Highlights the Student-Veteran Experience for Veterans Day
(from the UAF’s news bulletin Nov. 11, 2016)
[photo omitted Russell Cothren
Veterans on the faculty and staff of the U of A's Army ROTC.]
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas has a proud tradition of recognizing the sacrifices made by our nation’s military personnel. The university has been recognized nationally in recent years as a military-friendly school for its efforts to support student-veterans. In honor of Veterans Day, this Short Takes video tells the story of how a student-veteran made the transition to college, pulled from the Short Takes archives.
The Veterans Resource and Information Center is the hub of the U of A’s outreach. The center supports prospective and current student-veterans in need of assistance with the admissions process, applying for military educational benefits and scholarships, and referrals to various academic departments on campus.
Public Schools
“Red, White and Blue Performance.” Photo of children in red shirts holding up white paper plates. “Old High Middle School fifth-and sixth-grade students perform ‘America the Beautiful’ on Thursday during their annual veterans tribute in the school’s auditorium in Bentonville. The tribute to veterans included ‘interview a veteran’ projects displayed throughout the school.”
Religious Schools
“’O Say Can You See…’” NADG (11-12). Another photo of children dressed in red shirts (with one exception), these the Catholic St. Joseph School Angel Choir singing the “Star-Spangled Banner” during the “annual Veterans Day program at Arvest Bank in Fayetteville.” The program included speeches by Mike Ford and Carter Maxey. WHO ARE THEY?
Celebration in a Church and Political and City Opportunity. Photo of 3rd District Rep. Steve Womack shaking hands with a WWII vet during a “Salute to Veterans Past and Present” event at the First Baptist Church in Lowell, the event supported by the Lowell Historical Museum and the J.B. Hunt Senior Activity Center. (This one item illustrates the widespread support of the military by the body politic—the newspaper, a Congressman, a church, and two city government institutions--, and I expect more kinds of supporters were there.)
The State Newspaper, Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Editorial, “Veterans Day 2016.” Special attention to WWI vets with additional thanks to “everybody who wore the uniform.” In conclusion the writer wishes more attention were paid to the Day in addition to closed banks and US Post Office. VD “isn’t given the due of a New Year or Fourth of July or even a Valentine’s Day.” But that’s because “the country is just so…secure. Thanks to those veterans.” Well, no, in fact the wild War on Terror has been a War ofTerror, causing massive global violence and chaos especially throughout the Middle East, and desperate retaliation, as with 9/11. The writer then leaps into a hysterical effusion of fear-mongering: “The enemy is still out there, and always looking for an easy target.” The “enemy” is turned into a universal boogieman ranging everywhere and requiring a trillion dollars a year to the military-industrial complex to hold them off with of course thanks to our military heroes. “Today we celebrate all those who kept [WWIII] from happening.” But the truth of US nuclear accidents and threatening tells the opposite, and no US war after WWII has been in defense of our homeland (and only the War of 1812-15 experienced the continental USA invaded).
Editorial Page Cartoon of fierce-looking American Eagle partly covered by a US flag, thinking “Thank You.”
Guest column by an adviser to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs praising the “commitment and energy of VA employees.”
Editorial Cartoon: A drawing evoking the marines who raised the US Flag during the battle for Iwo Jima, saying: “Hire a Veteran.”
Two LTE: “Remember Warriors” and “How to Help a Veteran.” Plenty to say in reply but I’ve run out of time.
Film Review, NADG (11-12-16”: “Hacksaw Ridge” is discussed extensively (for a newspaper article). It’s about a conscientious objector who enlisted in the US army as a medic during WWII, when during the battle of Okinawa he saved “wounded and trapped” soldiers at the Maeda Escarpment, his extraordinary bravery earning him the Medal of Honor. The film is an important concession to the option of refusing to kill in war. Army Pfc. Desmond Doss “stood firm in the teachings of his Seventh-day Adventist faith.” But the review makes no case for nonviolence.
“Casualties of War.” NADG (11-12-16). Because the ADG supports US wars, I assume this list of recent killed was accidental. Yet apparently the editor could choose which day on which to publish it, and this was the day after Veterans Day. Here’s the newspaper’s explanation: “To honor the men and women in our armed forces and remind our readers of their sacrifices, this newspaper from time to time publishes the Department of Defense announcements identifying Americans killed in active military operations.” Eleven dead are listed.
TWO DAYS LATER CELEBRATING WAR AND WARRIORS NEVER ENDS IN USA
Brandon Howard. “Korean War Veterans Honored.” NADG (11-13-2016). 1-11 Veterans Day events NW Arkansas. 1-12 Events reported in NADG (see below). 1-13 Annual Veterans Day parade around Fayetteville Square honoring “all who served but puts spotlight on ‘forgotten warriors.’” Today singles out the Korean War even though it has its own day July 25.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/.../presidential-proclamation-national-korea...
Jul 25, 2016 - On National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, we pay tribute to the American patriots who fought for freedom and democracy throughout . . . .
The NADG gives 4 photos (Ozark Highlanders Pipe Band, Fayetteville High School Marching Band, a Vietnam War vet riding a float, and the Washington County Historical Society float) and explains how the Korean War has been neglected, despite its impressive magnitude: 6 million in uniform and 1.8 million in “the theater” all in 3 years, much larger than the US assaults on Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Grenada, or El Salvador combined, to name only our South American “theater.” The private Northwest Arkansas Veterans Day Association, established in 1999, is cited for helping to keep the war spirit stirred.
AND NOV. 11 IS KURT VONNEGUT’S BIRTHDAY, AUTHOR OF ONE OF THE GREATEST ANTI-WAR NOVELS, SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE.
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Contents: Armistice Day Newsletter #10, Nov. 11, 2016
Sound Out for Armistice Day!
OMNI’s National Days Project: Celebrate the DAYS of Peace, Justice,
and Ecology, Reject the Days of Violence
and Ecology, Reject the Days of Violence
Rory Fanning. Peace in Our Times. From Armistice Day for Peace, to Veterans
Day for Wars and Warriors. Now let’s return to the Day for Peace.
Day for Wars and Warriors. Now let’s return to the Day for Peace.
VFP: Reclaiming ArmisticeDayfrom Veterans Day
Bully Nation USA from Schoolyard to Invasions and 800 Bases Around the World
Militarized Arkansas Celebrates War and Warriors
Senator Tom Cotton;
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville;
Monuments in Bella Vista and Farmington;
Naming a Post Office;
LTE.
What to Do
END OF ARMISTICE DAY NEWSLETTER #11 NOVEMBER 11, 2017 (11-11-17)