Military Families to Deliver Flowers to Representative Melissa Bean to Highlight the Loss of Illinois Soldiers Killed in Iraq
Chicago Chapter of Military Families Speak Out kicks off "Operation House Call" in Mundelein, IL, Sunday, August 27 from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
MUNDELEIN, IL - As Congress prepares to end their summer recess in their home districts, Chicago area Military Families will make a “house call” to Congresswoman Melissa Bean. In June of 2006 Melissa Bean failed to support a resolution for an open debate on the floor of the House regarding Iraq. Following the “debate” and contrary to the will of the majority of voters across the United States, Congresswoman Bean voted with the Republican Majority to “stay the course”. That course has lead to the deaths of over 2,600 US Servicemen and women and countless Iraqi civilians.
WHAT: Military Families will gather during the appearance of Congresswoman Melissa Bean at the BlueFest event. (www.bluefest.org). Military Families Speak Out - Chicago will deliver flowers to Congresswoman Melissa Bean, to highlight the human cost of the Iraq war – she will be presented with one flower for each service person from IL who has died since she took office in January 2005. The name of each of those soldiers will also be read.
WHEN: Sunday August 27 from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
WHERE: Mundelein’ Diamond Lake Slough Park (on Route 60/83) approximately ½ mile west of the intersection of Diamond Lake Road and Route 60/83, Mundelein. The entrance to the park is just east of the Irish Mill Tavern on the south side of 60/83.
WHO: Members of Military Families Speak Out (MFSO)-Chicago, along with Veterans and other local Peace Activists.
Congresswoman Bean has consistently refused to meet with members of MFSO stating that in her district, people are not opposed to the ongoing occupation of Iraq. A small group of constituents delivered a petition with some 500 signatures in December calling for an end to the occupation in Iraq. In June and July, voters in the 8th District assisted MFSO in Operation House Call by mailing post cards asking her to take action to Bring Our Troops Home, Now and Take Care of Them When They Get Here.
Marge Haracz, a long time member of MFSO, is the mother of a soldier currently serving in Afghanistan. In July of 2006, her son’s unit sustained approximately 10% casualties including two fatalities as the result of ambush. On July 31, her son’s unit was notified that they would be extended for an undefined period of time despite the fact that NATO took over operations in much of the south of Afghanistan. His unit is scheduled to deploy to Iraq in the summer of 2007. Several other units in Iraq and Afghanistan including the 172nd Stryker Division were extended beyond their duty periods due to increasing violence in both countries.
Operation House Call opened on June 22nd in Washington, D.C., with a daily vigil that included a growing number of combat boots representing U.S. troop deaths, and shoes representing the deaths of Iraqi children, women and men - all who have died since June 15th when Congress voted to "stay the course" in Iraq, and the 2,500th U.S. troop death occurred. On June 22, the display reflected 11 pairs of combat boots and shoes representing the deaths of 141 Iraqis. As of August 1st, the display has grown to include 78 pairs of combat boots and shoes representing the deaths of 1,594 Iraqi children, women and men.
The second phase of Operation House Call follows members of Congress and Senators to their home states, as MFSO's 26 local chapters and over 3,000 military families prepare to meet their Senators and Members of Congress and demand an answer to the question: "Whose names are you willing to add to the growing list of casualties?"
For further information, go to: www.operationhousecall.org and www.mfso.org
Chicago Chapter of Military Families Speak Out kicks off "Operation House Call" in Mundelein, IL, Sunday, August 27 from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
MUNDELEIN, IL - As Congress prepares to end their summer recess in their home districts, Chicago area Military Families will make a “house call” to Congresswoman Melissa Bean. In June of 2006 Melissa Bean failed to support a resolution for an open debate on the floor of the House regarding Iraq. Following the “debate” and contrary to the will of the majority of voters across the United States, Congresswoman Bean voted with the Republican Majority to “stay the course”. That course has lead to the deaths of over 2,600 US Servicemen and women and countless Iraqi civilians.
WHAT: Military Families will gather during the appearance of Congresswoman Melissa Bean at the BlueFest event. (www.bluefest.org). Military Families Speak Out - Chicago will deliver flowers to Congresswoman Melissa Bean, to highlight the human cost of the Iraq war – she will be presented with one flower for each service person from IL who has died since she took office in January 2005. The name of each of those soldiers will also be read.
WHEN: Sunday August 27 from 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
WHERE: Mundelein’ Diamond Lake Slough Park (on Route 60/83) approximately ½ mile west of the intersection of Diamond Lake Road and Route 60/83, Mundelein. The entrance to the park is just east of the Irish Mill Tavern on the south side of 60/83.
WHO: Members of Military Families Speak Out (MFSO)-Chicago, along with Veterans and other local Peace Activists.
Congresswoman Bean has consistently refused to meet with members of MFSO stating that in her district, people are not opposed to the ongoing occupation of Iraq. A small group of constituents delivered a petition with some 500 signatures in December calling for an end to the occupation in Iraq. In June and July, voters in the 8th District assisted MFSO in Operation House Call by mailing post cards asking her to take action to Bring Our Troops Home, Now and Take Care of Them When They Get Here.
Marge Haracz, a long time member of MFSO, is the mother of a soldier currently serving in Afghanistan. In July of 2006, her son’s unit sustained approximately 10% casualties including two fatalities as the result of ambush. On July 31, her son’s unit was notified that they would be extended for an undefined period of time despite the fact that NATO took over operations in much of the south of Afghanistan. His unit is scheduled to deploy to Iraq in the summer of 2007. Several other units in Iraq and Afghanistan including the 172nd Stryker Division were extended beyond their duty periods due to increasing violence in both countries.
Operation House Call opened on June 22nd in Washington, D.C., with a daily vigil that included a growing number of combat boots representing U.S. troop deaths, and shoes representing the deaths of Iraqi children, women and men - all who have died since June 15th when Congress voted to "stay the course" in Iraq, and the 2,500th U.S. troop death occurred. On June 22, the display reflected 11 pairs of combat boots and shoes representing the deaths of 141 Iraqis. As of August 1st, the display has grown to include 78 pairs of combat boots and shoes representing the deaths of 1,594 Iraqi children, women and men.
The second phase of Operation House Call follows members of Congress and Senators to their home states, as MFSO's 26 local chapters and over 3,000 military families prepare to meet their Senators and Members of Congress and demand an answer to the question: "Whose names are you willing to add to the growing list of casualties?"
For further information, go to: www.operationhousecall.org and www.mfso.org
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