The Mail CHARLES STREET PRISON

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

Today is Memorial Day. It will be celebrated by a holiday, by parades and by patriotic speeches honoring men who have died fighting for the United States of America.

I honor those who died in World War I and II. In those wars the United States fought by necessity, and the United States fought honorably. But today I cannot celebrate Memorial Day. I mourn for these who have lost their lives in the Vietnam War.

My place of mourning is the Charles Street Jail. I and 100 other citizens on Friday, May 22, sat in front of the Boston Army Base to block buses carrying inductees to a war they do not want to fight. For this I am jailed. My jail sentence is light and the fact that my security is loose is the only reason this letter can pass to the public. From thousands of draft resisters who are now held in Federal prisons where security is better we shall hear nothing. They are the Vietnam fighters I honor.

It surely cannot be clearer than it is now that this war which brings us the civilian massacres at Ben Tre and My Lai, the destruction of the historic city of Hue, and the death of countless fighting men, including 42,000 Americans, is a horrendous error. This war is not for the benefit of North Vietnam, South Vietnam, or the United States: it is detrimental for all.

Our government's policy must be changed and it will only be changed by determined action. Opponents to the war-conscientious citizens everywhere-must act to put morality before personal safety or expediency. The GI knows no safety and the draft resister is not being expedient.

Act by writing letters and lobbying congressmen if you must, but act. Act with the danger of the GI and the sacrifice of the resister in mind and act as forcefully as your outrage dictates. Make today more meaningful by resolving that because of your efforts there won't be 5000 more to mourn for on the next Memorial Day.