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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Colt45" data-source="post: 122303" data-attributes="member: 1693">The North Dakota Veterans Coordinating Councilhas issued the attached statement to news media outlets in the state. For immediate ReleaseNorth Dakota Veterans oppose Veteran involvement in Standing Rock protests and actionsThe Veteran organization calling themselves “Veterans Stand for Standing Rock” (VSSR) are planning to assemble in North Dakota December 4-7, 2016 to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). This organization has reached out to veterans and Veteran Service Organizations in ND to obtain their support and assist in recruitment of veterans to the protest. The VSSR plans to assemble in Platoons and Company formations at the front line to face what they have identified as their enemy and opposing forces; the Morton County Sheriff’s office and multiple state police agencies in an extended conflict. The veterans plan to wear partial but not full military uniforms as well as body armor, protective masks and military head cover. The group states that they are here to peacefully protest.ND veterans’ organizations contacted by the “VSSR” have refused to support this assembly of veterans or assist in recruiting veterans from ND. Instead the ND Veterans Organizations have communicated with the VSSR that they oppose their “deployment” to ND and have reached out to veterans asking them not to participate.All military members take an oath to defend the US Constitution from enemies both foreign and domestic. We are all fight for our country and our way of life. We defend and respect the American Flag and treat it with the respect it deserves. As veterans we continue to serve our nation to uphold the oaths and commitments we made and fought for. We all agree that it is our constitutional right to assemble and peacefully protest. However the protests over the last 100 plus days in North Dakota have been less than peaceful.The DAPL protestors have cost our state over $10 million and have caused millions of dollars in damage to vehicles, equipment, property and livestock owned by; private corporations, citizens, family farms, our military and government agencies. Slaughtering privately owned livestock, throwing molotov cocktails and assaulting our law enforcement officers is not the military manner in which our veterans behave and not the kind of assembly and actions veterans should be a part of. Participating in this kind of assembly, even as a peaceful bystander or participant, will only mar the image of veterans in our nation.Opponents to the DAPL have defaced the North Dakota Pillar of the WWII monument located at the National Mall in Washington DC and defaced the North Dakota State Capital. It is degrading to a veteran to see the American Flag desecrated, improperly displayed and disrespected. This has been happening daily at the DAPL protest sites. Standing by those who conduct or have conducted this type of behavior cannot instill a good image on our veterans or our veteran community. The VSSR’s decision to involve themselves with this unlawful activity is unnecessary, disgraceful and not reflective of the veteran community. Their intention to proteston December 7th the 75th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor is an insult to the remaining few WWII veterans of ND.For these reasons and more the North Dakota Veterans Coordinating Council (NDVCC) which is made up of the American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign War, and the Vietnam Veterans of America adamantly opposes anyone representing themselves as a U.S. military veteran or a Veterans Organization to associate or involve themselves with illegal activities that have occurred or take part in any unlawful or unbecoming conduct or assembly in protest to the DAPL. The NDVCC also urges the veterans and Veterans Organizations of North Dakota to stay clear of all activities or assemblies involving the DAPL in support of neither the protestors nor the law enforcement officers as adding more people to the area only creates more tension which increases the burden on the law enforcement and military forces on the ground.   </blockquote>

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