SPONSORS
Cheapshot's - LBC's Newest Bar
A New Taste of Honduras in LB!
Bottoms Up Karaoke and Sports Bar
Puka Bar Exotic Cocktail Lounge
Career Academy of Beauty - 714-897-3010
West Coast VW Repair - Why Pay Dealer Prices?
Flaunt Salon - Hair Skin, Nails & Barbering
Alex's Bar - Live Entertainment
Writing Shotgun
NO ROOM IN THE PARADE
Pat Alviso of Military Families Speak Out called to tell us how it went for her at Saturday’s Long Beach Veteran’s Day Parade. Alviso’s group was one of three excluded from participating in the parade by organizers who said they were concerned that the groups just wanted to stir up trouble by protesting the war in Iraq. Organizers were supported completely backed fully by councilman Val Lerch whose 9th District played host to the parade.
Alviso found the idea she would disrespect an event honoring veterans, ludicrous. Afterall, her son is a Marine sergeant who has already served two tours of duty in Iraq.
“That’s ridiculous,” she said, “I’d be protesting my own son.”
When it became clear that Alviso’s group, as well as Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veteran’s For Peace, would not be allowed in the parade as groups, members decided to request that they be allowed to march individually as vets and family of vets.
“So, in the morning, we decided to go up to the organizers and say ‘My son is a veteran or I’m a veteran, can I march in your parade,” she said.
Problem was the person making the decision as to whether allow them to march individually was, hellooo, councilman Val Lerch.
“He told us we couldn’t march because the parade was full,” Alviso said.
Um, I was there, it wasn’t.
Eventually, Alviso and her colleagues decided to simply stand aside and do what they had always planned on doing: honor the veterans.
“We cheered like everyone else,” she said. “Probably louder. In fact, a lot of groups would look over at us because we were so loud. A couple even flashed us the peace sign.”
Tags: District Weekly, iraq, Long Beach, Military Families Speak Out, Veteran's For Peace, Veterans Day Parade
UPCOMING EVENTS
-
Wednesday, October 1
-
Thursday, October 2
Join Our Mailing List!
DTV
PREVIOUSLY ON DTV
CHARLTON LANCASTER› BUTTOCK CLEFT CONFIDENTIAL
› DTV BOOK CLUB: VOL. II
› MORE DTV VIDEOS
© 2007-2008 Seven Days Publishing LLC.


Add New Comment
Viewing 11 Comments
Thanks. Your comment is awaiting approval by a moderator.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Add New Comment