Many Central New Yorkers might not know that Veterans Day had its beginnings as Armistice Day after the end of World War I. The day was originally aimed at “perpetuating peace through good will and understanding.”
Most of us have only known November 11th as Veterans Day. That’s what it’s been called since Congress renamed it in 1954. But for more than 35 years prior, bells were rung around the world to commemorate peace at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
About 50 people filled May Memorial Church in Syracuse for a solemn event organized by Veterans for Peace and the Syracuse Peace Council. Coordinator and Vietnam Air Force Veteran Ron VanNorstrand says the day has mutated into the glorification of war.
“It really was the influence of the military industrial complex in the 40s and 50s and enabling politicians, that's really what made the shift to focus on revering the veteran, the soldier, the wars," VanNorstrand said. "But look where it’s got us. We haven't accomplished anything. I mean, we've destroyed a good deal of other countries and their cultures.”
At the entrance to the church, a small, propane-fueled furnace roared with an orange glow under a small tent. Mark Stradley is a school counselor in the Buffalo School District who also started Raw Tools Buffalo. Raw is war spelled backward. The not-for-profit melts metal from donated firearms and turning them into garden tools, his version of turning swords into plowshares.
“I had students that had witnessed their parents being murdered. I've had students that have been caught up in drug deals that have gone wrong. I've had students that have died by suicide," Stradley said. "So all those things along with events like Sandy Hook and we had children being murdered at school, really made me want to do something. I didn't want to wait on our politicians to pass laws. I felt like we as the people had to do something to bring healing to our community.”
Once the piece of metal from a rifle barrel was softened, Stradley invited attendees to take a few whacks. He says the process can healing knowing the new tool will be used at a local farm or given to a family that lost a loved one to gun violence…all in keeping with the original intent of perpetuating peace and good will on Armistice Day.
