It was a great day in Denver on Memorial Day! That is when the Valenzuela Brothers stood up and fought back!
They were told they could not bring their banner protesting the deportation of veterans! At the end of the parade, they displayed the banner just as the flag was going up!
All things pass for a reason. If the Labor Day Parade folks had remained silent on the issue, the Brothers could never have made the dramatic statement they did!
You can read the whole story below!
Article originally published as Breaking-Brothers-show-what-Viet Nam Vets Are Made Of In Denver!
Two brothers who are Viet Nam Veterans showed Denver what military resourcefulness is about during the Memorial Day Parade today. The Brothers, facing deportation, were special guests of the celebration. But at the last minute, they were told their fight to remain in the US would have to remain the secret of those in-the-know. The Brothers could not carry their banner protesting the deportation of approximately 3,000 veterans, a fate each brother could face shortly.
Manuel and Valente Valenzuela were brought to the US by their US citizen mother after their birth in Mexico. Both youths consider themselves US citizens. When the war broke out in Viet Nam, both enlisted. Each served on active duty in theater, and each Brother defended this country and his life, in armed combat. Upon return stateside, Manuel suffered the disgrace of having human waste thrown upon him by Americans angry over the war. Post traumatic stress disorder is common with men trained to kill, and the brothers soon fell victim once again.
Roughly two years ago, nearly 40 years after returning from Viet Nam, each brother received a removal notice. The Brothers, inseparable, didn't want to tell each other about the notices, choosing to anguish in secret. One of the Brothers nearly took his own life rather than face being parted from his sibling.
Manuel and Valente Valenzuela Speak out on 1150 am radio,
With the truth out, the Brothers learned they are not the only US veterans who are the victims of an aggressive deportation program by the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division (ICE). Likely, thousands of veterans have been deported despite promises by the military their service would make them citizens.
For some time, ICE has touted it's "criminal alien removal program" and the use of Secure Communities, a marriage of ICE records with local police computer data banks. What they have not said is it only takes three misdemeanors over a lifetime to be considered a "dangerous criminal". That could be three public intoxication charges thirty years ago. No provision exists for "dangerous criminals" who have been trouble free for decades, or for veterans.
Recent studies show about 28% of the immigrants deported recently have never committed a crime, and many have only minor violations against them, often decades in the past. Only 23% of those deported have serious criminal histories. In fact, since ICE uses arrest records rather than conviction records, some who come into the ICE cross hairs were never convicted of the crimes ICE brags about attacking. Recently, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn pulled out of the Secure Communities program because of massive abuse. Unfortunately, some of those apprehended by ICE are US veterans who put their lives on the line for our country.
The Valenzuela Brothers seek to shed light on ICE's ugly secret foisted upon unwitting soldiers. Yet, telling the secret has been unpopular, including at the Denver Memorial Day celebration. However, the Valenzuela Brothers were not to be silenced today. Although a parade representative took the Brother's banner away from them prior to the march, the Brothers were able to retrieve the banner at the end of the march. That is when the crowd had turned it's back to the review stand. Everyone was waiting for the American flag to be raised in a commons area.
When eyes thousands of people turned back to the review stand, they found the Valenzuela Brothers in the middle of the street, banner unfurled.
"Stop the deportation of military veterans" it said. "Bring Deported Veterans Home!"
Valente Valenzuela spoke to a hushed crowed stunned into silence.
"I fought for this flag" he said with tears in his eyes, "and now I am fighting for my life!"
The words were spoken in a slightly raised voice, even though the brass in the review stand needed microphones. You could hear a pencil drop, the quiet was so intense.
Speaking of pencils, a responsible president or legislature could have saved the Valenzuela Brothers a wheel barrow of anguish with a stroke of the pen but have refused. How many more parades does it take for Americans to demand justice for those who protect her?
Manuel Guerro Casas Seeks a Chance At Military Service
The Dream Act, introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin (D- Ill), and supported by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), cries for bi-partisan support. It would allow youth of undocumented immigrants to serve in the military or go to college. Some would eventually be able to apply as permanent residents after meeting strict requirements. While passage of the Act will not help the Valenzuela Brothers because it is age limited, for starters, it might provide guidance to horribly misguided government officials when immigrant youth put their lives on the line for our country.
As for the Valenzuela Brothers, their fate remains in the hands of our government officials. That is, unless a silent America takes up the battle cry for justice for veterans
Read more: http://technorati.com/politics/article/breaking-brothers-show-what-viet-nam/page-2/#ixzz1NuqFj12n
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