Our We Are Not Your Soldiers project is back in the schools. Compared to previous years, we got off to a late start due to the changes caused in education by the Covid 19 pandemic. And, it is a different experience doing all our visits remotely, even those right here in NYC where we’re based and – so far – that’s where most of our visits have been. All have been totally distant except for one presentation today which was blended with some students in the room listening to and responding to the computer and others tuning in from home. For the most part, students at home have responded via the Chat while students and teachers, masked in the classroom, spoke directly into the microphone.

We started out at the end of October with Will Griffin speaking to three JROTC classes in Philadelphia, invited after students raised concerns about the US military being used domestically against BLM protesters. Then, with Miles Megaciph, we spent an evening with a church youth group in Dutchess County.

Today, Miles was back presenting songs and his story to several classes at an alternative high school in Manhattan. Several students spoke of relatives and close friends changing their behavior and dealing with PTS after stints in the military. We’ll be spending a day next week in a large Brooklyn high school.

And, next week, Lyle Rubin will be speaking to two college philosophy classes.

Your donations help with stipends for the veterans who talk about their experiences openly with so many young people. As a young man wrote in the chat today, “This was amazing. Thank you so much for sharing your hard truths.” Your support also helps us to pay for advertising to boost knowledge of our project on social media. Please help out.