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Posted by: Robert L. Hanafin, Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired, Veterans Today News

FOR: Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW)

We mourn the lives of John Thomas “J.T.” White of IVAW’s Ohio chapter, and Lisa Morris, member of the Fort Hood chapter. Both died this year after surviving tours of duty in Iraq. Our hearts are with their families and friends.

Our work to end the occupations continues in their spirit.

Take a moment this Memorial Day to light a candle, say a prayer, or have a minute of silent reflection on the costs of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Re-commit yourself to working toward their end.

Here are things you can do:

1. Make a donation to IVAW. Any amount helps.
2. Have a sit-down with any veteran you know. Ask them how they are doing, learn about their experience, and listen. Find out if they need any help (counseling services, discharge issues, educational access) and connect them to appropriate services. See if they are connected with any veterans’ groups or might want to connect with other vets in IVAW.
3. Connect with a local IVAW chapter in your area. Meet with chapter leaders for coffee or dinner to learn what their local needs are and see how you might plug in. What can you do to help build an IVAW chapter in your area? Contact an IVAW Field Organizer to get connected to a chapter in your region: Aaron Hughes (Central and Midwest) aarhughes@ivaw.org, Chantelle Bateman (Northeast) chantellebateman@ivaw.org, Joe Callan (Southwest and West Coast) zkjcallan@ivaw.org, Jason Hurd (Southeast and Deep South) jehurd@gmail.com.
4. Host an event to watch IVAW’s Winter Soldier testimony footage, start a Winter Soldier book reading group, or use Winter Soldier in your classroom. Footage is available online at www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier.
5. Help keep the loss of life, the number of Killed In Action Wounded In Action, and civilian deaths in the headlines of your local news by writing letters-to-the-editor, petitioning your local radio station to acknowledge the dead and wounded on a regular basis, or sending blurbs to your local community papers.
6. Volunteer with the GI Rights Hotline 877-447-4487 www.girightshotline.org and/or get GI Rights cards to pass out to GIs and Veterans by emailing: haber.jim@gmail.com.
7. Make your town or city a sanctuary for war resisters (AWOL soldiers). Learn about the efforts of others to do this: http://open.salon.com/blog/washingtonpeacecenter/2010/04/05/keeping_gis_safe
8. Ask any mental health counselors or alternative health practitioners (massage therapists, acupuncturists, Reiki healers, etc.) to provide free services for veterans. Hans Buwalda, VVAW counselor, is developing a national network of providers, so add to her list by contacting her at 773-370-4789 info@storiesandart.com.

In Solidarity,

Iraq Veterans Against the War