University of Virginia Library

YAF Sponsors Rally

By Corbin Eissler

Calling for prayers for the
Americans who have died in a war
"spawned and prolonged by communist
fanaticism," over 100
people assembled at Barracks Road
Shopping Center Saturday for a
"Tell It To Hanoi Rally."

The rally was sponsored by the
University's chapter of the YAF
and various veteran groups, and
according to the Daily Progress was
praised by Charlottesville Mayor
G.A. Vogt who said "there are
those who are seeking to destroy,
but there are others who are
seeking to build."

Seventh District Congressman
John O. Marsh was the main
speaker at the rally. He explained
our "national commitment" in
Vietnam as a result of no "vague
humanitarian venture," but the end
product of "an evaluation of long
range defense requirements in
Southeast Asia, as related to our
own security."

Mr. Marsh added, "it is our
future security, as affected by
stability or instability in that part
of the world, and not simple pride,
which dictates that we make a
distinction between hurried peace
at any price and peace with
freedom for the Vietnamese and
adjacent peoples."

Mr. Marsh echoed the so-called
"domino theory" as he continued,
"What happens in South Vietnam
will inevitably affect not only the
immediate safety of Laos, Thailand,
Cambodia and Burma, but also the
evolution of stable systems of
parliamentary government in
Indonesia and Malaysia."

He continued this reasoning by
saying "the future security of
Australia" and most of southeast
Asia including Japan would be
threatened by a Vietnamese "fall"
to "communist aggressors."

Mr. Marsh warned against
condemning the youth simply
because of the peace
demonstrators, pointing out that
many "young Americans have
demonstrated their courage and
dedication by the quality of their
service when called to duty in
Vietnam."

John Kwapisz, President of the
University chapter of YAF, has
called for a week of national unity
in support of American soldiers in
Vietnam, and American war policy.