July 28, 2025 – Thoughts Towards a Better World

PRE-NOTE: Below consists primarily of program notices in coming days for folks in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

For anyone, this mornings Weekly Sift including this, are very informative in my opinion.

Hiroshima-Nagaasaki may be of interest to anyone. Just scroll through. (Dates of the events described are listed).

Saturday I went to the new Superman film. I thought it worth my time and cost. I always look for “the moral of the story” in these kinds of films. This is no exception, in my opinion. Afterward, I read the interesting Wiki on George Reeves. the original Superman. Checking my calendar, most likely I would have seen it on television in the late 50s. There’s been changes in technology since then, of course.

HIROSHIMA-NAGASAKI et al: This year is the 80th anniversary of the A-Bomb and Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945). There are several observances in the next several days in the twin cities area, and below are some links to them, all dedicated to peace, some with a long history. I encourage you to at least take a look, and take some time to participate in at least one of the events noted.

HiroshimaNagasaki_2025vs3: August 4,5,6,8,9

Minnesota Historial Society August 23.

https://mra.wildapricot.org: August 7

Melvin Giles Celebration of Life: August 2: at Como Park High School in St. Paul, will be an event remembering the life of St. Paul peace and justice advocate Melvin Giles. I was honored to be Melvin’s friend, Below is the descriptor of events for Saturday.

(See also, Larry Johnson events following Melvin. Larry is also a long-time friend,)

Melvin Giles

Dear family & community,

We hope you are well. We are deeply grateful to everyone who reached out with love, prayers, kind words, and beautiful memories of our brother, uncle, and cousin Melvin Giles. We appreciate your condolences and love. He is deeply missed, but he lives on in our hearts, our gardens, and our commitments to peace.

As mutual lovers of life, peace, humanity, and Melvin Giles, we wish to extend an invitation to you all to come remember and celebrate the life of Melvin Giles. Melvin’s celebration of life will be held at Como Park High School in St. Paul on Saturday, August 2nd, 2025. The address and program are below.

Many of you have asked how you can support. We invite you to share stories, memories, photos, contribute funds, and/or any other gestures that feel meaningful to you. Please email memories, support statements, photos, and videos to eandreagiles85@gmail.com.

We will collect these and share them at the Celebration of Life and create a media publication to share with all. We will be contacting several of you who worked with Melvin closely to be part of the program in some way.

In lieu of flowers we ask that you donate to the Melvin Giles Community Legacy Fund. This will allow the memory and work of Melvin to continue to permeate our communities. Please use the link below make your contribution. If mailing contribution and/or other questions, please contact us at eandreagiles85@gmail.com.

In the spirit of Melvin, share a smile, laugh a lot, wear purple, blow bubbles, and grow peace and flowers! 💜☮️🫧

We look forward to seeing everyone soon. Peace.

-The Giles Family
Posted 7.17.25
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Celebration of Life of Melvin Giles

Como High School
740 Rose Ave W
St Paul, MN 55117

11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Doors open/Social moment with family, friends & community

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Celebration of Life (Auditorium)

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Food, Fun, & Continued Reflections (Cafeteria)
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Melvin Giles Community Legacy Fund

This fund is to support the celebration, memorial, and legacy work of Melvin Giles.

Donation Link
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=X2NDE8ZKQY3Z6

The Imhotep Science Academy, a non-profit youth organization that Melvin worked with and developed several of his Illuminating Solar Powered Peace Poles, will aid in collecting funds.

Larry Johnson July 31, August 9. Larry is a great storyteller and devoted peacemaker.

Hello All My Friends:

I know the 79th birthday Parade June 14 was quite controversial. Since there’s been no big stir about my turning 79 Parade on August 9, I’m going ahead with it. We will leave at 9 a.m. from Rick’s Coffee Bar, 5402 – 43rd Avenue South, near the VA. Rick’s is part of EVERY THIRD SATURDAY, a wonderful Veterans helping Veterans organization. I took coffee intravenously at birth in Swedish Hospital, so I’ll be at Rick’s early to drink coffee and use the restroom. If you think you are coming, let me know so we know to wait briefly for you.

From Rick’s the Parade will move meditatively on the sidewalk to the John H. Stevens House in Minnehaha Park. Stevens came here in 1849 as a Veteran to get his own farm where downtown Minneapolis is now. He and Helen organized the city of Minneapolis and started the State Fair to teach settlers how to grow their own food. When we get to the House, Tyler the Earthworm will sing 79 EARTHWORMS LED THE BIG PARADE to oppose cuts to education and child health care. Tyler is the big purple puppet with a blue baseball cap who helped me start the patient TV channel at Children’s Hospital. We also used to do SING ALONG WITH YOUR COMPOST PILE at the State Fair Eco-Experience. Tyler is the symbol for the OGP (Old Gardening Party) and its mission TO KEEP THE WORLD SAFE FOR CHILDREN, GARDENING, AND STORYTELLING.

About 11 years ago I was one of 11 Veterans who made our own Armistice Bells with sculptor Gita Ghei on a State Arts Board grant. A few of those bells will roll in the parade on a yard-size seed spreader. This is maybe one thousandth the size of a tank (probably smaller than that) so I see no repair danger as with the June 14 Parade. I will, however, carry a used C-PAP tank for our concern over Seniors losing health care. The Stevens House has been vandalized several times the last couple years, so it is surrounded by wire fence as the Park Board deliberates its future. There’s no particular place to sit so the very short program will include ringing the Bells as a warning to legislators who illegally send soldiers into harm’s way, then say THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE as they slash Veteran funding. I will play the theme from MASH on a SWING RESP[IRATORY HOSE. The lyrics say, “Suicide is painless”, but it’s not. Especially when it is happening to far too many Veterans. I will also tell a very short version of the story of seven thousand Minneapolis school children pulling the house in 1896 from downtown to the Falls for Historic preservation.

David West says NO JUSTICE JUST US, my new music video is up on YouTube. In 2005 Elaine and I did an AM950 radio show from the MARCH ON WASHINGTON because of the illegal invasion of Iraq. David was our storyteller friend back here in the studio. On July 31 at 1 p.m. I’m on Don Olson’s show on KFAI, 90.3 FM. Jim Lovestar, JoAnn Blatchley,Caren Stelson, and I will discuss an event that just happened at the Friends Meeting House, the August 6-8 Hiroshima/Nagasaki remembrances, and the August 7 PEACE AND LITERACY conference.