Longtime Iowa Citian Ed Flaherty introduced Ann Wright for today’s program.

 

“Ignorance is a menace to peace.” – Paul Harris

 

Veterans for Peace is a global organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using their experiences and lifting their voices. They inform the public of the true causes of war and the enormous costs of wars, with an obligation to heal the wounds of wars. Their network is comprised of over 140 chapters worldwide whose work includes: educating the public, advocating for a dismantling of the war economy, providing services that assist veterans and victims of war, and most significantly, working to end all wars. To achieve their goals, members of Veterans for Peace pledge to use non-violent means and to maintain an organization that is both democratic and open with the understanding that all members are trusted to act in the best interests of the group for the larger purpose of world peace.

 

Ann Wright won the State Department Award for Heroism for her assistance in helping thousands of refugees escape the civil war in Sierra Leone, though she resigned from the State Department, after serving 16 years as a U.S. Diplomat, in protest over the U.S. invasion of Iraq. She has been a long time peace activist and was aboard Challenger 1 as part of the Gaza Flotilla. Raised in Arkansas, she received a masters and law degree from the University of Arkansas and later was awarded a Master's Degree from the U.S. Naval War College. Wright was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from 1982 to 1984. Wright went on to serve 13 years in active duty and 16 years in the Army Reserves, rising to the rank of colonel.  Wright is a member of Veterans For Peace, and is on the Veterans for Peace Advisory Board.

 

Wright believes that our country is on a path of too much war. She has traveled extensively to places around the world where U.S. policies have had an impact. Recent trips to Greece and Germany were highlighted in a slide show during our meeting. Currently, there are 1 million refugees in Germany alone. Middle class families have been forced to sell their homes and possessions in order to raise money to pay smugglers to assist them in escaping the violence in their home countries. Many volunteers are constantly needed to help in the refugee camps in a variety of capacities such as serving meals, sorting clothing and shoes, playing with kids to give their parents a break and trying to bring a semblance of normal life in these trying times. Many organizations are assisting in these efforts including Doctors Without Borders, Hot Meals Idomeni, and Lutheran & Catholic Relief Services.

 

She strongly believes that we must open our doors….not close our doors to refugees who need to be taken into the United States.

 

For more information, please visit: http://www.veteransforpeace.org/.