MFSO-Chicago

Don't Be Fooled Again

2007-09-01T03:34:00.000-05:00

As an unpopular Congress returns to DC to make decisions regarding our loved ones futures, one Gold Star Mom speaks out in response to a new "stay the course" campaign funded by Washington powerbrokers in a bid to shore up support for a war that the voters do not support.

Multiple, lengthy deployments, rising casualty rates among US Soldiers and dismal progress on meeting the Presidential benchmarks on "success" in Iraq are combining to further erode voter support ahead of a critical funding bill.

Our message is simple: Funding the War is Killing Our Troops. Support our Troops - Bring Them Home NOW and Take Care of Them When They Get Here.

Mother's Day

2007-05-20T13:29:00.000-05:00

From CK:

May 14th, 2007 there was a “Mother of a March” planned that would take place in D.C., as well as sister marches in other cities, such as L.A. and New York. It was made up primarily of mothers and was held the day after Mother’s Day. Before the D.C. March began, there was a speaking event in Lafayette Park across from the White House. Among the speakers were: Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, Presidential candidate Mike Gravel, Col. Ann Wright, Cindy Sheehan and military moms, Sara Rich, Tina Richards and myself.

We started the march in Lafayette Park across from the White House. Those of us who were military mom’s (Cindy Sheehan, Marte-last name deliberately omitted, Sara Rich, Tina Richards and myself…maybe one or two others that I don’t know) led about 300-400 people in the march with a banner that read, “NOT ONE MORE MOTHER’S CHILD”. Along with us was a flag, flying upside down, which is a Navy signal meaning, “we are in distress”. During the majority of the march, which ended at an intersection at Independence Ave. between the Cannon and Longworth Congressional Office buildings and the Capitol Building, we chanted, “no more funding, no more war, mothers say, not one more”. We circled the intersection and tied up traffic for about a half and hour. At that point, we were warned by the Capitol Police, once and then twice to leave if we did not want to be arrested.

I was not planning to be arrested, as I had to fly home the next morning, but at the time the warning seemed like a dare and I felt I would be abandoning my son, who is in the hellish hardship of a purposeless war in Fallujah, away from his wife and children. How could I walk away? It was a desperate plea to my congressman, Ray La Hood, who I have called, emailed and even had a face to face meeting with the day of the McGovern bill…and who still wasn’t going to vote for the troops to come home…still was going to give the President until September to let the troop surge work.

Thirty-three others felt the same way as I did and risked arrest to make a point to our government that we are desperately trying to get them to see how serious we are…and the sad state our country is in. The rest of America needs to wake up, because the next step may have to be a draft and your child may have to go to Iraq…then maybe it will be more understandable to you why we were so willing to be this drastic and go to jail for the sake of bringing our children home from Iraq.

The troop surge is using and abusing our soldiers who are exhausted and battle scared with PTSD and severe brain trauma. Send them back for more…ruining them, their bodies and their minds and their families in a war for what? OIL? These same congressmen who continue this war…and this administration…are their children in this war that they think is so righteous? NO and they never will be.

How long will this administration continue to take lightly the sacrifice of our soldiers and their families? How long will our congress continue to not speak for the people and bring our troops home? How long will this President-Dictator, continue to stand in his pride and not admit this war was wrong or at least that he made a mistake?

We are not currently being ruled in a democratic fashion. When 70 percent of American is saying, bring the troops home and Congress isn’t doing it and our President is vetoing everything that is passed. All of this is why I have begun doing protest and become an activist.

The Human Cost of War

2007-04-22T13:29:00.000-05:00

Gold Star Mom Karen Meredith

Who They Leave Behind

2007-04-22T11:00:00.000-05:00

Captain Rose Forrest - National Guard

Sonny Flores

What They Say

2007-04-22T10:45:00.000-05:00

Army Specialist Garret Reppenhagen

Lt Col.Andrew Horne (retired)

The series of short videos depicted above is a joint project of Moveon.org and VoteVets. MFSO-Chicago does not endorse political action committees, specific candidates for office or their projects and campaigns.

However, MFSO-Chicago believes that it is important for members of the public to HEAR the stories of those who serve and the loved ones who support them every single day. That is the core of our mission when we say Support Our Troops - Bring Them Home Now and Take Care of Them When They Get Here. The stories are compelling, first hand and relevent to our mission. To learn more about the project, please visit moveon.org

3,000 Dead - America Mourns

2007-01-03T07:05:00.000-06:00

On December 31, 2006, the Pentagon announced that 3,000 Service Members had died in Iraq. MFSO-Chicago members from all over Illinois hosted and participated in community vigils to mourn the deaths of these brave individuals and to call for an end to the war and occupation in Iraq. The pictures is from a vigil held in the 8th District at the College of Lake County on January 2nd. We lit luminarias to mark the lives lost and noted with sadness the loss of potential these lives represented.

Eyes Wide Open

2006-11-02T22:42:00.000-06:00

Many people toured the exhibit during the day. We met the VA Coordinator for the College along with several active duty Service members. Many walked slowly through the boots pausing to read personal momentos left by family with the boots. One student, recently discharged from the Army left personal momentos with two pair of boots representing buddies with whom he had served.

One young woman thought the exhibit was "disrespectful" but she did not explain what was disrespectful about it. A few art students stopped by to take pictures to use as research for paintings.

We screened "The Ground Truth" several times during the day. Several students stood and watched the film from start to finish.

Eyes Wide Open - The Cost of War to Illinois

2006-10-22T16:38:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday November 1, 2006 MFSO-Chicago and The Lake Area Peace Partners will host Eyes Wide Open - The Cost of War to Illinois at the College of Lake County. The exhibit will be open to the public from 1 pm to 8 pm. During the day, we will screen the acclaimed documentary The Ground Truth which tells the stories of Iraq Veterans - in their own words - about the difficulties they face when they return home to a country that lacks understanding and resources to address their needs.

Eyes Wide Open - The Cost of War to Illinois is a smaller version of the American Friends Service Committe's exhibit that has traveled across the United States since 2004. Originally, 504 pairs of boots placed in the Chicago Federal Plaza in January 2004, the exhibit has grown to nearly 2800 pairs of boots to represent the fallen Servicemembers from all states and hundreds of pairs of empty shoes to represent the loss of innocent civilian life in Iraq. The large exhibit has been displayed coast to coast including Chicago, New York, Boston, Washington DC, and Sacramento. The Illinois exhibit has been "on tour" for the last several weeks. Family members and friends of the fallen often stop by and leave momentos that become a part of the exhibit.

MFSO-Chicago and The Lake Area Peace Partners invite you to stop by and visit the exhibit that speaks directly to our hearts and reminds us of the human cost of war

After Pat's Birthday

2006-10-19T17:09:00.000-05:00

Kevin Tillman joined the Army with his brother Pat in 2002, and they served together in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pat was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. Kevin, who was discharged in 2005, has written a powerful, must-read letter

By Kevin Tillman

It is my brother Pat’s birthday on November 6, and elections are the day after.

It gets me thinking about a conversation I had with Pat before we joined the military.
He spoke about the risks with signing the papers.
How once we committed, we were at the mercy of the American leadership and the American people.
How we could be thrown in a direction not of our volition.
How fighting as a soldier would leave us without a voice… until we get out.

Much has happened since we handed over our voice:
Somehow we were sent to invade a nation because it was a direct threat to the American people,
or to the world,
or harbored terrorists,
or was involved in the September 11 attacks,
or received weapons-grade uranium from Niger,
or had mobile weapons labs,
or WMD, or had a need to be liberated,
or we needed to establish a democracy,
or stop an insurgency,
or stop a civil war we created that can’t be called a civil war even though it is.
Something like that.

To read more please link here

The Oak Park Peace Fair

2006-09-22T16:19:00.000-05:00

MFSO-Chicago members Marge, Katy, Ginger and Gold Star Mom Rosemarie joined Georgia from MFSO Wisconsin at the Oak Park Peace Fair on September 10. The turnout was perhaps not as large as last year but perhaps it was due to the clouds and threat of rain that scared folks off.

There were several peace and political groups that had tables...and a few candidates and special political visitors stopped by. Code Pink, in lovely pink garb, offered to give Bush a "pink slip". We tabled right next to our favorite people Vets for Peace and Vietnam Vets Against the War. They had a tent (leave it to those military guys) in case of rain. Katie shared stories with people about her son Jason's long recovery. Marge took pictures (and more pictures - too many to post all but take a look at the slide show) and Ginger and Rosemarie greeted visitors to our table and talked with people - about the toll of war on family and service members. Rosemarie brought a picture of her son, Brian who died in Iraq after his helicopter was shot down by an RPG. The helicopter, used by the IL National Guard in civilian missions, was not armored for war and along with Brian, several others were killed as well.

Georgia was a featured speaker. And when she took the stage, the members of MFSO-Chicago stood with her - in solidarity. She spoke of her son, who suffers from PTSD and the lack of help he receives from the government who sent him to war. She also spoke of her friends...and ours who have lost family members in Iraq. We held pictures of a few of the many who have died or wounded in Iraq: Brian - Rosemarie's son, Stephen - Summer's son and Jason - Katy's son.

Along with the sadness we all feel when we gather, there was a tiny bit of joy since Georgia brought her grandbaby...a beautiful ray of sunshine in a cloudy day.

MFSO-Chicago Visits CSNY

2006-09-14T16:04:00.000-05:00

Laura and Marge from MFSO were honored to be invited to "table" at the Chicago presentation of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's Freedom of Speech Tour. The concert featured several of Young's songs recently released on the album Living with War along with many really great "oldies." During the concert, our MFSO members were able to go in and watch the performance.

Many who were attending the concert stopped by our table and picked up literature about MFSO, Vets for Peace, Iraq Vets Against The War and Vietnam Vets Against the War. Most comments were very positive although one young man decided to engage in a debate regarding Iraq and the need to "stay the course." In the end, we agreed to disagree about our positions and honored the committment of young men like my son and Laura's brother in serving their country. Pictures were not allowed in the concert venue, however, we did get a few of folks visiting us on their way in.

MFSO-Chicago Operation House Call Action

2006-09-08T10:36:00.000-05:00

I was wrong to place my trust in Congresswoman Bean’s judgment or in her commitment to supporting the troops. Following a number of votes that providing continuing funding for the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan without requiring appropriate oversight and accountability, on June 16, 2006 the Congresswoman voted to “stay the course” in Iraq. For the members of the US Military and their families her votes mean broken contracts, delayed homecomings, inadequate supplies including basic needs like food, water and body armor while in combat, inadequate training for the actual situations on the ground due to a lack of equipment for training purposes and inadequate care for physical and psychological injuries sustained in battle.

Read more here

We Don't Always Chase Politicians

2006-09-01T21:56:00.000-05:00

Most of what is done in MFSO is pretty heavy stuff. On occassion, however, we get to lighten up a bit and talk with like minded individuals....you know the 60% of those American voters who actually believe that "Stay the Course" is bad for our country.

MFSO-Chicago members Laura and Marge will table at the Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young "Freedom of Speech Concert" on Sept 2. I have listened to the Young album "Living With War" often since its release. My personal favorite is the song "Flags of Freedom" which was written to honor Bob Dylan.

And on September 9, Katy, Rosemarie and Marge will participate in the second annual Peace Fair held in Oak Park. Georgia Stillwell, MFSO Wisconsin, another good friend who took House Call to Dennis Hastert, is scheduled to speak.

A smaller Eyes Wide Open exhibit will be at the Fair...a sobering reminder of why we work so hard to advocate for our loved ones both on the battlefield and here at home. Our small contingent includes the mom of an active duty Soldier now serving, a mom who just spent months supporting her son who was seriously injured in Iraq, a Gold Star Mom and a mom whose son returned from Iraq with PTSD.

2006-09-01T20:54:00.000-05:00

Today, MFSO-Chicago went to an 8th District Debate taped for a Chicago radio station. It will be aired at 9:30 am and 9:30 pm on Sunday on AM 780 - WBBM. The debate was held at the Grayslake High School and the Government class from the school assisted in a variety of roles...including submitting questions for the candidates. It was very nice to see that that the schools in the district are teaching politics in action since we need a group of smart voters to help get us out of the mess that is Iraq.

The challengers arrived early and interacted with the students. As MFSO-Chicago understood someone to say, the Congresswoman remained cloistered in a "private" room with her campaign folks. Maybe she heard that we had more of those lethal flowers to deliver...this time peace roses in a pair of combat boots...and a quote on a card from a soldier currently serving. The quote said simply: "Time To Change the Course".

In any case, the Congresswoman hardly had time to exchange pleasant conversation following the debate before she left...likely to get on with her busy schedule...or was it to avoid, once again, facing a mom who has a kid living with her "stay the course" vote? Don't know. The school extended a very nice invitation for MFSO-Chicago to attend a reception held following the debate...but many of us in MFSO-Chicago have "other jobs" as well...so it was off to work.

Since the Congresswoman didn't want "peace" roses, MFSO-Chicago gave them to the wife of one of the challengers...and gave that card to the students. Perhaps they will check out why that Soldier was quoted as saying "Time to Change the Course". The kids won't have to look far as the following story published today citing a Pentagon report to the Congress reveals. "Stay the Course" as MFSO has warned, is only going to lead to more deaths of US Troops and Iraqi civilians.

The core conflict in Iraq has changed from a battle against insurgents to an increasingly bloody fight between Shi'ite and Sunni Muslims, creating conditions that could lead to civil war, the Pentagon said in a report on Friday.

The congressionally mandated report provided a sober assessment of Iraq over the past three months, saying overall attacks rose 24 percent to 792 per week -- highest of the war -- and daily Iraqi casualties soared 51 percent to nearly 120.

The rest of the story which has been picked up by multiple papers can be found here.

It is all about accountability, Congresswoman. "Stay the Course" is a slogan that makes for poor policy. Nice commercials with happy business owners talking about health care insurance bills that haven't even been discussed in the Senate don't address the needs of all of the voters in the district. Internet safety is important...but so are the lives of those soldiers you voted to keep in harms way. And working on getting the basic equipment needed in the field through emergency supplementals has been pretty inneffective...and very costly for the taxpayers in the district.

It is Time to Change the Course. It is time to Support Our Troops, Bring Them Home Now and Take Care of Them When They Get Here. Responsible slogan...make it responsible policy....soon. Every day you fail to act to end the occupation of Iraq, an average of two more US Troops and hundreds of innocent Iraqi civilians die. Whose name are YOU willing to add to the growing list of casualties?

MFSO-Chicago will be back to ask that question again...and again until you answer. See you soon.

Win At All Cost Dems

2006-08-30T02:17:00.000-05:00

Following is the press report of our demonstration at BlueFest. It would seem that MFSO-Chicago and the Peace Partners friends aquired a mole!

Must mean we are important or something.
________________________________________
Group protests 'stay-the-course'

By Frank Abderholden fabderholden@scn1.com

MUNDELEIN — "I'm an equal opportunity protester," said Marge Haracz, a member of Military Families Speak Out.

The Mundelein resident was at a Democratic Party event Sunday called Blue Fest Rally For Democracy and she was targeting U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean, D-Barrington.

"I'm amazed with the stay-the-course mentality," said Haracz, whose son Ray, 21, is serving in Afghanistan. Her husband, Jay, handed Bean 48 carnations before the congresswoman left for another engagement.

Each carnation, half yellow and half white, represented a soldier from Illinois who has died in Iraq or Afghanistan.

"She was going to place them in some memorial park," said Jay.

Brian Herman, Bean's communications director, said the congresswoman dropped the flowers off at the Mundelein veteran's memorial at Route 176 and Hawley Street. The flowers were still there later Sunday.

Herman said Haracz, who has protested the war in front of the White House, also has criticized Bean over a procedural vote on how long a debate can last in the House of Representatives. On that issue, Bean voted with a majority of both Democrats and Republicans, he said.

"She doesn't support a timetable or the immediate withdrawal (of troops)," Herman said of Bean. She supports holding the administration accountable for training and the deployment of Iraqi security forces that will be needed "before we withdraw our troops," he said.

Haracz was not the only member of Military Families Speak Out at Sunday's rally.

Carolyn Quinn has a son, Collin, 24, in the Navy working inside a nuclear submarine somewhere in Middle East waters.

"That's all I get to know," said the Crystal Lake woman. But she says she supports Bean's re-election. Quinn said the MFSO has a motto: Bring them home now and take care of them when they get here.

"I want my son to be home now and I want Melissa Bean back in Washington come November," she said. "And I want Melissa Bean bolstered by a Democratic majority when she returns to Capitol Hill."

A number of Democratic candidates and officials spoke at Blue Fest, including U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston, who voiced her support for Bean's re-election.

"I'm proud to be here and support Melissa Bean. We need 15 seats," she said, referring to the number of congressional seats Democrats need to have a majority. In her remarks she also blasted the Bush administration and Republicans saying that 67 percent of the country thinks there needs to be a new direction in Washington.

"The world is on fire and people are suffering," she said. "Democrats are on the rise. People regardless of party are fed up and you activists are going to be leading the way," she said to an ovation from the nearly 100 people gathered at the Diamond Lake Slough Park off Route 60/83.

08/28/06

______________________________________

We realized that the "Party People" were upset about the demonstration...but we think their problem should be with Congresswoman Bean and her failure to act to stop the dying in Iraq.

And can we all choke on that bit about "holding the administration accountable?" Thousands of lives lost and billions of dollars missing: Mr. Herman - get real!

When it counts, Bean fails to show up and be counted just like she has for her entire term on the subject of Iraq and real support for our troops. The peace people show up...shoot we visited the "Party People" all afternoon kind of like a nagging conscience.

And a mole...geez aren't we special?

Did you guess who the mole is? If not, stay tuned (we already know but we aren't telling). I believe that critter will likely show up again. Maybe next time our little mole will bring the Congresswoman with her.

Oh yes...to the Bean campaign folks who have been busy reading our blog instead of working - email us when the Congresswoman wants to talk. We gave you cards with the contact info. Have your people call our people as it were.

In the mean time, we will be seeing you around. We will be the ones holding the signs and maybe a pair of empty boots. The Congresswoman seems to think she is able to carry sll 2,631 pairs. We find that burden too great.

A House Call on Rep Bean, (D) IL 8th

2006-08-27T23:54:00.000-05:00

On Sunday August 27, MFSO-Chicago paid a House Call on Congresswoman Melissa Bean at a local political event called BlueFest, Rally for Democracy.

Operation House Call began on June 22nd in Washington, DC in response to the “limited debate” allowed by the Republican Majority on the merits of the ongoing occupation of Iraq and the House Resolution that was passed following that “debate.” Bean failed to support a Democratic sponsored resolution calling for an open debate on the issue of Iraq – something that has not occurred since 2003. Bean also voted in favor of House Resolution 861 which among other things identified Iraq as a “central front on the war on terror”, called it a “noble cause”, and supported the Bush Administration’s “stay the course” pseudo-policy. Bean’s record on Iraq made a House Call necessary.

According to the Waukegan News Sun, Bean along with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky was scheduled to “headline” the event. Congresswoman Schakowsky intended to introduce Bean and both intended to address the crowd. The same article published the fact that MFSO-Chicago planned to attend the event in protest of Congresswoman Bean’s record on Iraq.

Supported by peace activists from the Lake County community, three 8th District MFSO members decided to attend BlueFest and deliver flowers to Congresswoman Bean – one for every Illinois Service Member who has died in Iraq since she took office in 2005. In response to inquiries from peace people all over the district, Bean carefully points out that she was not in Congress when the decision to invade Iraq was made. I believe we already knew that.

We set up in a community park with signs, a pair of boots, several dozen flowers and our best smiles early Sunday morning. Good thing we got there early. Alerted by a reporter, the Bean campaign knew we would be there. The reporter from the paper expressed doubt that she would come. He told me that her campaign “freaked out” when they were called for comment on the MFSO press release. She did come, 15 minutes ahead of the start of Bluefest and 45 minutes ahead of Operation House Call to “make an appearance.” Since I am my own “staff”…and had forgotten something, I briefly left and came back to find her…arms full of flowers preparing to leave the event at about 11:45 just minutes into her scheduled event. Her aide kept tapping his watch telling us she “had somewhere else to be” and we assumed that she would return to speak. She did not. Congresswoman Schakowsky spoke. Several local Democratic candidates spoke. Bean was a no-show on the speaking engagement. We can only surmise that the 8 of us with our signs, boots, and smiles were too scary for her.

This response is typical of Congresswoman Bean. When she is asked to be accountable for her voting record by the people who it most profoundly impacts - she is all about “cut and run.” That point was very evident to her supporters, her constituents and the military families in attendance.

Throughout our time there, various people stopped by from Bluefest, including Congresswoman Schakowsky. Most were quite nice although they were pretty adamant about the need to “vote Democratic” in the upcoming election. A few were a bit upset because we were “showing the split” among the Democrats and even if Bean was a “weak” Democrat we needed to “hold our nose” and cast a vote to get the Democrats in the majority. That was funny since I am not a Democrat…or Republican for that matter. I am an Independent who takes a look at issues when casting a vote or supporting a candidate. But in a spirit of peace and harmony, we were able to co-exist with the “Party” people while making our point: Supporting the Troops is much more than a yellow bumper sticker: True support for the troops is to Bring Them Home Now and Take Care of Them When They Get Here. And that is a scary message, indeed.

Illinois 8th District House Call

2006-08-26T09:37:00.000-05:00

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

Operation House Call Featured in the "Army Times"

2006-07-29T08:21:00.000-05:00

Families bristle at word of tour extension

By Karen Jowers Times staff writer

For some families of soldiers in the 172nd Stryker Brigade, the July 27 announcement of the extension of their tour in Iraq was just too much.

Some of them are joining the ranks of the anti-war group Military Families Speak Out. “We’ve had a whole group of people who have joined since the announcement,” said Nancy Lessin, co-founder of the group. She was working to get an exact count at press time, and said e-mails are still coming in to the organization. “They are having meetings at families’ homes,” she said. “Many family members hold their breath until their loved one gets home,” and then speak out, she said. “But something like this puts them over the edge.

“There has never before been a group of military families breaking the code of silence like this,” she said. “It speaks to the horrific nature of the invasion and now occupation of Iraq.”

Lessin and her husband, Charley Richardson of Boston, founded the organization with another military family in November, 2002, to speak out against military action in Iraq. Their Marine son served in Iraq in 2003.

The organization now has grown to more than 3,000 military family members. Most are parents or spouses or fiancées of troops, she said, but there are also siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and children. “I got one e-mail from a young man whose 59-year-old mother was being deployed,” she said.

Since June 22, some members of the group have staged “Operation House Call” near the U.S. Capitol, making statements to congressmen, staff members, and others as they pass by. The number varies daily, but more than 50 family members have participated at some point, coming from the Washington, D.C., area as well as other locations around the country. By the time they finish Aug. 3 when Congress is expected to go into summer recess, the number may reach 100.

A number of service members, including some Marines and a West Point graduate, have thanked them for their efforts, Lessin said.

Group members have also visited a number of congressmen and senators. “As we go in to offices, we often take two pairs of boots and put them on the table to show an average of two troops are being killed for each day that Congress fails to act,” she said.

They will continue to speak out until their goals are met, Lessin said. Those goals “are to end the occupation and bring the troops home; to take care of them when they get here.

“And never again send our loved ones to a reckless misadventure putting them in harm’s way in a war based on lies,” she said.

Group members have been maintaining their vigil near the Cannon House office building when Congress is in session.

The group is worried about the care of troops who return, especially their mental health. “The biggest single issue among families lucky enough to welcome their troops home is PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder],” she said.

But there’s a broader concern, too, Lessin added. “There’s a real sense among families this war is destroying the military,” she said, noting that “many service members who wanted to make the military a career” and were devoted to their service, have chosen to leave the military.

http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1985733.php

Speaking Out and Supporting Operation House Call

2006-07-16T11:45:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, MFSO members John and Marge were invited to speak at Congregation Beth Emet in Evanston. Following Sabbath services, Marge and John addressed the members of the Social Action Committee and did a pretty extensive Q and A session after. This talk was part of their educational series on the war in Iraq. We learned that some members of the Congregation had family and friends in Israel in these very troubling times...and it was very easy to identify with their concerns - when it comes down to it, in war and occupation Family Matters.

John's son retuned from Iraq earlier this year. He shared some stories regarding personnel and equipment shortages that are a constant source of concern in Iraq and have served to increase the casualty count on both sides. John's observation, as a former artillary officer, was that US policy was only half heartedly pursuing those responsible for terrorism.

Marge spoke of similar problems in Afghanistan - often touted as the "blueprint" for freedom in Iraq but in reality, just another quagmire that has resulted in unnecessary casualties both civilian and Military in an occupation that is nearly 5 years old. Her son is currently engaged in the large offensive in the southern and eastern parts of that country which as seen the worst violence since 2001 just ahead of the NATO take over of peace keeping responsibilities in that country.

Members of the Congregation thanked us for our very personal stories telling us that they helped paint a picture of the lives of our Soldiers and the stress it places on families at home.

When they have finished their educational series, the Social Action Committee plans to propose a resolution for the full Congregation to call for a speedy end to the Occupation in Iraq. We hope that our stories help them in their cause.

Most members took Operation House Call post cards to sign and forward to Barak Obama calling on him to Act NOW to bring about an end to our occupation of Iraq.

Operation House Call - Week Three in DC

2006-07-15T11:08:00.000-05:00

This week, Georgia, MFSO Wisconsin paid a house call on some Illinois lawmakers. She was interested in visiting them because her Soldier son who suffers from PTSD resides in the Chicagoland area. Dennis Hastert was among those she wished to visit. Initially, he refused - but then various groups, MFSO-Chicago among them began calling to ask his scheduler WHY a Member of Congress who "supports the troops" would refuse to address the concerns of a Soldier's Mom? He relented and a meeting took place. MFSO member Stacy accompanied her. You can link to the story of the meeting here.

New Website

2006-07-08T22:14:00.000-05:00

Operation House Call has a brand spanking new website. It is www.operationhousecall.org. Please visit often to check how our members in DC are doing...and for ways you can support them in your own district.

North Suburbs House Calls

2006-07-02T23:22:00.000-05:00

150 House Call Post cards have been distributed to mail to Senator Obama and the 8th District incumbent, Melissa Bean. Thanks to Code Pink - Chicago and concerned Lake County Residents for your help. MFSO-Chicago has also sent several news stories highlighting the human cost of war to these lawmakers.

Since it seems that Representative Hastert's staff does not read the paper, I sent him a House Card letter and press clipping to identify one of Illinois latest casualties. Stacy had paid his DC office a House Call...and left a young staffer flustered when he was unable to give the names of the Soldiers who had died in Iraq the previous day. Sadly, the DOD has reported other Illinois casualties this week.

MFSO-Chicago participated in the North Suburban National Organization for Women's Meet the Candidates event to bring our message to incumbents and hopefuls alike. We will also have a representative at a gathering of peace groups meeting with Democratic candidate, Dan Seals later this week.

Operation House Call News from DC

2006-06-30T01:47:00.000-05:00

This picture first appeared in Roll Call. The caption reads:

Cope, S.C., resident Elaine Johnson (back), whose son, Spc. Darius Jennings, was killed in Iraq, consoles Mona Parsons of Mount Vernon, Ohio. Parsons’ son is currently on his first deployment in Iraq. They took part in a press conference last week organized by Military Families Speak Out, which launched Operation House Call, a summer-long campaign urging Members of Congress to help bring American soldiers home

To read more on Operation House Call in DC, please click here.

Operation House Call

2006-06-25T00:56:00.000-05:00

Operation House Call is underway in Washington DC...and in Chicagoland! Operation House Call is a summer-long awareness-raising campaign to assist our lawmakers to make the right decision: Support Our Troops - Bring Them Home Now and Take Care of Them When They Get Here.

MFSO members from all over the country will maintain a vigil at the Congressional Office Building from now until Congress recesses on August 7. MFSO will do citizen lobbying of various members of Congress and selected Senators.

For those who can go to DC, please contact the National Office for further information. For those who can't - we need your involvement as well. So our various Reps and Senators don't get lonely, missing that great MFSO logo while they are in the district and traveling around Illinois, please write them...send post cards (MFSO has a supply of them! - or design your own) and give them a call. Often!

If you have a local peace group you work with, have a post card signing party....but keep those cards and letters flowing with our message. Now is also the time to consider scheduling a personal visit when our leaders are "home for the summer." They love to meet with constituents during an election season after all.

Keep our message going strong. For our reps, this is the start of the election season. Let them know that enough is enough...Not one more life ought to be lost in Iraq due to this ongoing occupation.

Show REAL Support for the Troops! Bring em Home!

For questions or if you need cards, support, etc, please email the Chicago Chapter at mfso-chicago@mfso-chicago.info.

Now get writing!

Welcome Back!

2006-06-17T23:17:00.000-05:00

I am pleased to report that Gold Star Dad, Juan has returned from a three week fact finding tour in Afghanistan safely. His tour, which took him to the place where his son John was killed in 2004, will be the subject of a documentary which is planned for release in August.

Welcome back, Juan! I was really worried about you!