A Special Letter To All Members of IBEW Local Number Two

We need your help for a special Labor Day Parade Honoring our Fighting Forces

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

On Monday, September 3, 2007, our annual Labor Day parade in downtown St Louis will have a SPECIAL focus:  the support of our Armed Forces who are now in two wars that, regardless of your personal feelings, are putting our troops in harm's way.  Thousands are making the final sacrifice; and tens of thousands more are paying a life-long price because of their physical and mental wounds.

The Labor Movement and our Local Union want to recognize these brave Americans this Labor Day and show them that Union families are behind them 1000 percent, regardless of our personal feelings about the war itself.

To let them know our feelings, this Labor Day's parade will be dedicated to our troops.  It starts with the parade theme, "Labor Supports Our Troops."  We will make that support loud and clear with red, white and blue t-shirts, which our Union will buy for all of our marchers.

But we're going to do more.

1.    The past National Commander of the American Legion, Joe Frank and Jim Mueller, past Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, will invite veterans' groups to march proudly with us, or stand alongside Union families viewing the parade.

2.    Based on a special need for vets, the Labor Movement is creating a special "Homeless Heroes' Coat Fund" to collect winter coats for homeless veterans (gently used or new).  Can you believe there are hundreds, if not thousands, of veterans who, after serving their country, come home to no job, no place to live and no real support so they become the "unseen homeless."  An incredible 23% to 28% of ALL homeless are veterans!  Despite the best efforts of local veterans' organizations, they often don't have enough coats for these homeless heroes.  We can't let that happen!

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

1.    Make plans to join with us this Labor Day, Monday, September 3, 2007, by either marching in our Local's contingent or bringing the family down to cheer along the way - hopefully both!

2.    If you have any new and/or used winter coats (in wearable condition), bring them to the parade.  For the marchers, there will be a collection point along the way; for viewers, there will be a mobile collection van.

3.    If you so desire, you can make a contribution to $10 for the Troops" and mail it to our Union office (2131 59th Street, St Louis, MO 63110) and we'll add it to our Local's donation so that the veterans groups can buy wearable items such as shoes and shirts these homeless heroes need to survive the winter.

Labor Day 2007 will be a voice ringing across America that Union members an families "Support our Troops" who are fighting, and tragically dying, so that we have the right to march on Labor Day.

Sincerely and Fraternally yours,

Dave Desmond, Business Manager