Veterans For Peace Again Barred From South Boston's Saint Patrick's Day Parade

 

March 17, 2016

SOUTH BOSTON— On Sunday, March 20, Veterans For Peace will hold a silent protest at 524 East Broadway along the parade route. This is the address of the late Lieutenant Tony F. Flaherty U.S.N. Tony was the beloved member of Veterans For Peace who passed away peacefully in July 2015. This year, Veterans For Peace had applied to walk in the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade but once again were denied by the Allied War Veterans Council. VFP’s unit was to be named as a Memorial Unit in honor of Tony. “Tony was one of our most respected members”, said Al Johnson a member of VFP’s Executive Committee, “Tony is sorely missed by our members. It is shameful that the AWVC still denies veterans who have honorably served this country, and now work for peace, from participating in this parade”.

 

Members of Veterans For Peace will silently stand outside of the former home of Tony Flaherty, in silent protest as the parade passes by. They will carry their VFP flags and American flags.  

 

“It is shameful that the Allied War Veterans Council are once again disrespecting veterans on Saint Patrick’s Day. What are they afraid of? Our rejection is solely based on the fact that we work for Peace”, stated Pat Scanlon, event organizer for VFP. “This continues to be an embarrassment to the City of Boston and the Boston Police Department”.

 

Negotiations with the AWVC and VFP took place in the office of Boston Police Commissioner Bill Evans on October 27^th. Everyone in attendance thought a deal had been agreed to. However when the Council finally voted VFP was rejected once again. Upon hearing of the rejection, Commissioner Evans stated, “The exclusion of these veterans is an embarrassment to the City of Boston. They clearly pledged that they would abide by all the rules and regulations, they met all the requirements of the parade application, and still they were denied participation”.

 

Brian Mahoney, the former Commander of the AWVC, and the person who had negotiated the make up and size of VFP’s unit in the Commissioner’s office, immediately resigned as Commander in protest of AWVC’s decision. “These are veterans, have met all the requirements to be in the parade, and should be allowed to march, this is shameful” stated Mahoney.

 

“It is ironic that Tony Flaherty was best of friends with John “Wacko” Hurley the long time Commander of AWVC. They were best men at each other’s weddings. Over the years they parted friendship, as their views on war and peace grew apart”, stated Scanlon. “How fitting it would have been to honor both men in this year’s parade with resolution of this long-standing conflict”

 

The intransigence of the AWVC, their continued disrespecting of veterans and the embarrassment they bring upon the City of Boston should stop,” stated Johnson, “The City of Boston should take back the management of the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, making it open and accessible to all, allowing all to be part of the historic celebration of the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, especially our veterans”.