Right to Heal VA Campaign
Veteran & Community Meeting
2:30PM | Saturday, April 14, 2018
The Right to Heal VA Campaign (RTH) has been on the move and we want to get you more involved. On Saturday, April 14th, at the Jesse Brown VA, we are hosting a Veteran & Community Meeting to do just that.
What: Veteran & Community Meeting
Where: Vision Conference Room, Second Floor, Damen Building
Jesse Brown VA, 820 S Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60612
When: 2:30PM | Saturday, April 14, 2018
RSVP by mailing Right to Heal <RightToHealVA@gmail.com> or join the event on Facebook
At this meeting we will share our plans to build the campaign locally and how we are working to coordinate nationally. We also want to hear from you on why you want to join the fight to save the VA from privatization. RSVP today to join us at our Veteran & Community Meeting.
Since our March 1st program we have been busy! Hundreds of you called your representatives on our Save the VA Call In Day; We had delegations visit staffers at Senator Durbin’s, Senator Duckworth’s, and Representative Quigley’s Offices; With SEIU Healthcare and AFGE 789 we demanded that Rear Adm. Jackson and President Trump state unequivocally that the Administration will not pursue an agenda to privatize the VA in anyway shape or form; We hosted a panel on the issues and our campaign at the Labor Notes Conference; And we’ve gotten press coverage in a handful of great outlets. But we still have our work cut out for us.
With all the turmoil resulting from Secretary Shulkin’s dismissal and Trump’s overt plans to privatize the VA, now is the time to get organized. Join the fight to save the VA. RSVP today to join us at our Veteran & Community Meeting.
RSVP by emailing Right to Heal <RightToHealVA@gmail.com> or join the event on Facebook
The next meeting of the Coalition of Veterans Organizations will be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, 820 S Damen in the 2nd Floor Conference Room. The meeting will start at 7 PM, but refreshments and CVO leaders will be there at 6 to discuss issues with anyone who comes early. Also, the pizza will be hotter then, than during the meeting.
The key agenda point will be a presentation and discussion around the 1932 Bonus March, the Civil Rights Campaign of the 1950s and 60s, the Human Rights Campaign, the original Poor People’s Campaign in 1968, and the new “Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival” of today. CVO is participating in the Poor People’s Campaign on Monday, May 28th (Memorial Day). Find out all about it!
Pizza will be served. Get parking in the garage validated as you enter from Ogden Ave.
See you on the 16th!
The Right to Heal VA Campaign (RTH) is calling on all veterans that care about saving the VA to join us tomorrow at a hearing on VA privatization and why it is not the solution. At the hearing we will make a call to action and announce an informational picket and press conference at Federal Plaza on Friday. Details below.
Call to Action & Workers’ Rights Board Hearing
Where: Conference Room, Second Floor, Damen Building
Jesse Brown VA, 820 S Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60612
When: 4:30PM | Thursday, May 17, 2018
RSVP by mailing Right to Heal <RightToHealVA@gmail.com> or join the event on Facebook
On May 17th, join us as the Right to Heal Campaign announces a call to action and next steps in the fight to unite veterans and VA workers to save the VA and fight back against privatization. After the announcement the Workers’ Rights Board will hold a hearing to discuss what VA privatization would mean for veterans. The hearing will feature experts in the field of VA care, veterans speaking to their experience of using both the VA and the private sector, and VA employees who have dedicated their lives to serving veterans.
Save The VA Press Conference and Informational Picket
Where: Federal Center and Plaza, 219 S Dearborn St, Chicago, Illinois 60603
When: 10AM | Friday, May 18, 2018
RSVP by mailing Right to Heal <RightToHealVA@gmail.com> or join the event on Facebook
The Save The VA Coalition and the Right To Heal VA Campaign will be holding an emergency press conference and informational picket to oppose H.R. 5674. The bill backed by the Trump adminstration and the Koch front group, Concerned Veterans of America would expand private healthcare vouchers at the expense of the VA healthcare system and give unprecedented powers to the VA secretary to make drastic changes, including authority to outsource/privatize services of VA healthcare without oversight or congressional approval.
With the firing of VA Secretary David Shulkin for not advancing a privatization agenda quickly enough and with continued disarray within the Trump administration in finding a replacement for Shulkin, we believe it is the worst possible time to give Trump such powers to change VA healthcare. We will be demanding that Senator Duckworth and Durbin hold the line against these terrible bills and vote no on these bills and other efforts to privatize the VA.
RSVP by emailing Right to Heal <RightToHealVA@gmail.com> or join the events on Facebook Right to Heal Hearing at the Jesse Brown VA & Save the VA Press Conference at Federal Plaza.
Veterans & VA Workers
United to Save the VA!
Chicago’s Memorial Day Parade honors all men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.
The Wreath Laying Ceremony will begin at 11am at the Eternal Flame on Daley Plaza (Dearborn and Washington Streets). The parade will step off at noon and proceed south on State Street from Lake Street to Van Buren Street.
The next meeting of CVO will be this Wednesday, May 15th at 7 PM in the 2nd floor Conference Room of the Jesse Brown VA at 820 S Damen in Chicago.
We will be holding elections to the CVO Executive Committee at this meeting! You must be a member to vote.
Also on the Agenda: CAN-TV. We will discuss hosting a regular show, in rotation with other Veterans groups, on CAN-TV. Volunteers to get trained and participate in this project need to be at this meeting.
We’ll also discuss the latest developments in getting HR 96 – Dental Care for ALL Veterans – voted on and passed in the House of Representatives.
… and MORE!!
As usual, we will have refreshments. Parking in the garage will be validated. Get your validation when you arrive!
See you there!
Chicago’s Memorial Day Parade honors all men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.
The Wreath Laying Ceremony will begin at 11am on Daley Plaza (Dearborn and Washington Streets). The parade will then step off at noon and proceed south on State Street from Lake Street to Van Buren Street.
Major General Marion Garcia, Commanding General, 200th Military Police Command, United States Army Reserve, will serve as the parade’s Grand Marshal. Maj. Gen. Garcia graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1987 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Military Police Corps. She has served in a wide variety of staff and leadership assignments as well as during multiple deployments including: Rear Battle Plans Officer with the 14th Military Police Brigade during Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm; Commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment 720th Military Police Battalion during Operation Provide Comfort Somalia, Commander of the 324th Military Police Battalion with a deployment to Baghdad, Iraq; and Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Her numerous awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Parachutist Badge and German Armed Forces Efficiency Badge (Bronze).
During the Wreath Laying Ceremony and Parade, the City of Chicago honors fallen heroes and Gold Star family members who have lost a loved one in the United States Armed Forces to combat operations or while on active duty. Approved by Congress beginning in 1947, Gold Star Lapel Pins and the Next of Kin Lapel Pins are presented to families not as an award, but as symbols of honor worn by family members in remembrance of their fallen loved ones and their ultimate sacrifice.
Chicago’s Memorial Day Parade honors all men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.
The Wreath Laying Ceremony will begin at 11am on Daley Plaza (Dearborn and Washington Streets). The parade will step off at noon and proceed south on State Street from Lake Street to Van Buren Street. The Chicago parade is considered one of the largest Memorial Day parades in the nation. Since 1870, Memorial Day parades have graced the streets of Chicago. Wreath Laying Ceremony begins at 11 am; Parade begins at 12 Noon
Join Illinois Rolling Thunder Chapters on Sunday, May 29th, 2022, for the MidAmerica Rolling Thunder XXXIV demonstration parade. No Entry Fee!
Departure at 10am!
Purpose of the 54-mile ride is to remind our government to keep searching for our 82,000+ missing servicemen and women.
The ride will pass through Hines VA Hospital to Cantigny Park and to 1st Infantry Museum at 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton Illinois.
| Food, Vendors, Music, RT XXXIV pins & patches and 1st Infantry Museum Tours available. | |
| Location | Assemble, James A. Lovell FHCC, 3001 Green Bay Road, North Chicago (Enter south parking lot from Green Bay Road south of RT 137) |
| Address | 3001 Green Bay Road [Map] |
| City | North Chicago |
| State | ILLINOIS |
| Zip | 60064 |
| Contact Phone | (847) 915-8428 – Wayne Kirkpatrick |
| Contact Email | wkirkpa177@aol.com |
The Chicago Memorial day parade is on, Saturday, May 27, 2023 and starts at
12 noon on Wacker Drive between Dearborn and State St..
The City of Chicago and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) are honored to announce the Grand Marshal for Chicago’s Memorial Day Parade and Wreath Laying Ceremony on Saturday, May 27. The Wreath Laying Ceremony will begin at 11am at Daley Plaza (50 W. Washington St). The Parade will step off at noon and proceed south on State Street from Lake Street to Van Buren Street. Major General Rodney Boyd, Assistant Adjutant General – Army of the Illinois National Guard and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, will serve as the parade’s Grand Marshal. Originally from Chicago’s South Side, Major General Boyd is the highest-ranking African American Officer in Illinois National Guard’s 300 year history.
During the Wreath Laying Ceremony and Parade, the City of Chicago honors fallen heroes and Gold Star family members who have lost a loved one in the United States Armed Forces to combat operations or while on active duty. Approved by Congress beginning in 1947, Gold Star Lapel Pins and the Next of Kin Lapel Pins are presented to families not as an award, but as symbols of honor worn by family members in remembrance of their fallen loved ones and their ultimate sacrifice.
The Illinois National Guard is celebrating their 300-year anniversary by commemorating significant dates in its history with communities across the state that share that history. Founded on May 9, 1723, the Illinois National Guard has and continues to draw its strength from the community. The National Guard is the oldest component of the U.S. military and the only military component with both state and federal missions.
The Wreath Laying Ceremony at 11am will also be livestreamed at Chicago.gov/live.
More information can be found at: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/memorial_day_parade.html
Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony & Parade
Saturday, May 25, 2024
Wreath Laying Ceremony, Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St. at 11am
Parade, State Street from Lake St. to Van Buren St. at Noon
Chicago’s Memorial Day Parade honors all men and woman who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.
The Wreath Laying Ceremony will begin at 11am at Daley Plaza (50 W. Washington Street). The Parade will step off at noon and proceed south on State Street from Lake Street to Van Buren Street. Rear Admiral Zeita Merchant, U.S. Coast Guard will serve as this year’s Parade Grand Marshal. Rear Admiral Merchant, who was born in Chicago, recently made history by becoming the first African American female promoted to flag rank in U.S. Coast Guard history.
This year’s Major General John A. Logan Patriot Award will honor André Richardson King; and the City of Chicago will acknowledge two Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) students with the Cadets of the Year Award: C/LTC Lorena Mozo of Farragut Career Academy and C/Capt Fernando Gonzalez of Marine Leadership Academy.
During the Wreath Laying Ceremony and Parade, the City of Chicago honors fallen heroes and Gold Star family members who have lost a loved one in the United States Armed Forces to combat operations or while on active duty. Approved by Congress beginning in 1947, Gold Star Lapel Pins and the Next of Kin Lapel Pins are presented to families not as an award, but as symbols of honor worn by family members in remembrance of their fallen loved ones and their ultimate sacrifice.
The Wreath Laying Ceremony at 11am will also be livestreamed at Chicago.gov/live.
More information at about this event can be found here: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/memorial_day_parade.html
