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Dear President Paxson, Your Intolerance of Veterans is Unacceptable

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Guest MINDSETTER™ Giovanni Feroce

Giovanni Feroce

Dear President Paxson,

I woke up this morning to very disturbing news regarding Brown University, located right here in our capital city of Providence. This comes after a steady rise of intolerance that has festered on many college campuses and prominently more than once on Brown's campus in the past few years. I call on you and the rest of your administration to immediately denounce such extremists intolerance and more importantly to formulate and implement a dialogue that consists of civil discourse. I will gladly make myself available for any such discussion.

It is with sadness that we mourn the passing of journalist Gwen Iffil this week, but it is exactly her words that are so appropriate on this issue. She was a passionate voice for a plea for civility in this nation.

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She once wrote, “And, yes, civility is something we prize on both NewsHour and Washington Week. I always tell audiences that we see more value in light than heat. Sometimes the only way to have a discussion is to have a debate, but the only way to learn something is if the debaters make an effort to listen to each other."

I struggle to understand how someone like myself, who grew up in a very low income household here in West Warwick, worked three jobs at a time for most of my life since age 12, served my nation for 24 years in the military through three wars, created directly and indirectly thousands of jobs, and am responsible for charitable contributions north of $10 million dollars, can wake up to this kind of news.

You need to be held accountable, not the students. Leadership is not easy nor assignable.

President Paxson

You have a responsibility and in order to continue to lead responsibly, you need to call out those that are intolerant and demand that they reach out to our veterans and apologize for the fear they have created in the military community. At last count there are over 20 million veterans and over 80 million direct family members. That is roughly one out of every four Americans that have received your campus community's threat.

I work hard every day and dream about how I will be able to donate to institutions of higher education to include Brown. I will tell you emphatically, that I and I am sure many others will be meeting with our estate planners to reevaluate where to direct our hard earned money if we feel that you house a community of hate.

As a proud immigrant who calls Rhode Island home, I refuse to allow your campus to stain the fabric of our community and more importantly our great nation that I have stood up for and defended, the United States of America.

I am hopeful that you understand the importance of seizing this moment as an opportunity to bring our community together.

Very Respectfully,

MAJOR Giovanni Feroce (RET)

Chairman and CEO

B E N R U S

39 Pike Street

Providence, RI 02903

Related Slideshow: 25 Ways to Celebrate Veterans in RI & New England - 2016

Operation Stand Down's Boots on the Ground Memorial

Operation Stand Down RI (OSDRI) will host the first annual Boost on the Ground for Heroes Memorial this Memorial Day weekend from Friday, May 27 at 5 p.m. to Monday May 30 at 4 p.m. Overall, OSDRI will place 6,844 boots in the field by the Temple to Music at Roger Williams Park throughout the weekend.

A formal ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 28 at 11 a.m. where Sgt. Major Todd Parisi will deliver the keynote address.

The event will honor all of Rhode Island's veterans American heroes who were killed in action defending the country during the war on terror by marking their lives with a boot, a flag and a name placard.

Click here for more information.

North Kingstown Wreath Laying

The North Kingstown Wreath laying will take place on Monday at Civl War Memorial at North Kingstown Town Hall as well as at memorials at Veterans Memorial Park.

Those ceremonies will take place at 9 a.m.

PHOTO: Presidio of Monterey/flickr

Charlestown Parade

The Charlestown Parade begins on Sunday at 1 p.m. starting from Cross Mills, Old Post Road and goes to Ninigret Park.

Once at the park, ceremonies and a concert by the Wakefield Concert Band will take place at 2 p.m.

Warwick Jewish Veterans Observance

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Foster Parade and Wreath Laying

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There will also be a speaking program and the unveiling of a monument that is dedicated to World War II veterans who were originally from Foster.

Avenue of Flags at Pawtuxet Memorial Park in Warwick

The Avenue of Flags at Pawtuxet Memorial Park in Warwick consists of over 300 American flags lining the streets in the park.

Hours for the Avenue of Flags are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting on Saturday and ending on Monday.

It is FREE.

Pawtucket Veterans' Council Ceremony

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Flag Retirement Ceremony in Little Compton

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During the event, the public is invited to bring worn flags to burn.

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North Providence Parade

The North Providence Memorial Day Parade begins at 1 p.m. on Monday starting from North Providence High School on Mineral Spring Avenue and ends a Governor John Notte Jr. Park.

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Lincoln Memorial Day Parade

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1876 Tribute Re-enactment and Procession

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The reenactment includes the roll of the dead in Fishtown Chapel, observance in Greenmanville Church and a procession to Middle Wharf as well as music of the Civil War fife and drum program.

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Portsmouth, New Hampshire Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony

The Portsmouth Memorial Day Parade and ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. starting at Parent Avenue parking lot and will conclude with a ceremony at South Street Cemetery.

Bangor, Maine Memorial Day Parade

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The parade will proceed north on Exchange street and finish on Main Street.

Immediately following the parade there will be a ceremony at Davenport Park.

PHOTO: Davenport Park

Seekonk Memorial Day Parade

The Seekonk Memorial Day Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. on Saturday from Seekonk High School and ends at Dr. Kevin Hurley Middle School.

Following the parade, there will be a dedication of the Seekonk Veterans Memorial next tot the Seekonk Library. The dedication takes place at Noon.

Witness for Peace Concert in New London Connecticut

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The ceremony will consist of a the raising of the flag from half staff as well as a 21 gun salute.

The ceremony is FREE and open to the public.

Garden of Flags in Boston

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Flags have been planted since May 25 and will remain until sundown on May 30.

Hubbardton, Vermont Memorial Day Remembrance

At noon, battlefield flags will be raised to full-mast and tribute paid at the battle monument to the soldiers of Hubbardton.

The event will go from 12 p.m. to 12:15 p.m.

PHOTO: Vermont.gov

Shrewsbury Memorial Day Parade

The Shrewsbury Memorial Day Parade will start at 9:30 a.m. on Monday from the Richard Carney Municipal Office building and makes several stops along the way.

The parade stops at Soldier's Statue in front of the Police Station on Maple Ave, War Memorial at the Town Center and at the Veterans Lot at Mountain View Cemetery.

At this year's ceremony, Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor, Karyn Polito will speak at the Town Center.

Charlton Memorial Day Parade

The Charlton Memorial Day Parade will start at 2 p.m. on Monday rain or shine. The parade will begin at the Masonic Home and proceed to the front of the town's Library at Dexter hall.

Manchester, New Hampshire, Memorial Day Parade

The Manchester Memorial Day Parade will be begin at 2 p.m. starting at Webster Street. The parade will conclude with a wreath laying ceremony at Veterans Park.

PHOTO: Nasa/flickr

Portland, Memorial Day Parade

Portland Memorial Day Parade begins at 10:15 a.m. at Longfellow Square and proceeds down Congress Street to Monument Square where ceremonies will take place.

PHOTO: Maine.gov

Essex Junction Vermont Memorial Day Parade

The parade begins at 10 a.m. and leaves out of Champlain Valley Exposition gate F. The parade will end at the dispersal area in Pearl St.

70th Annual Memorial Day Services

The 70th Annual Memorial Day Services will be held on Saturday, May 28 at a11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in the Back Bay Fens in Boston's Fenway neighborhood.

Leicester Memorial Day Parade

The Leicester Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Memorial School and proceeding north on Pleasant Street tot he Town Common where ceremonies will be held.

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