Military and Gold Star Families Mourn 3,500th Troop Death In Iraq

[babylonsister]

http://www.commondreams.org/news2007/0606-09.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 6, 2007
11:39 AM


CONTACT: Military Families Speak Out MFSO
Ateqah Khaki, Riptide Communications, 212-260-5000 Nancy Lessin, Military Families Speak Out, 617-320-5301

Military and Gold Star Families Mourn 3,500th Troop Death In Iraq
Family Members of Fallen Troops, and Families of Those Currently Serving in Iraq Available for Interview


NATIONWIDE - JUNE 6 -On the eve of yet another grim milestone – the 3,500th troop death in Iraq -- Military Families Speak Out (MFSO) asks all in the nation to stop and reflect on the human toll of this war, and press Congress to act decisively to prevent further deaths by using its ‘power of the purse’ to fund our troops and de-fund the war. Military Families Speak Out is an organization of over 3,500 military families opposed to the war in Iraq who have loved ones who are serving or have served in Iraq, have been wounded physically and/or psychologically by this war, may soon deploy or re-deploy, or who have died as a result of the war in Iraq.

"Since my son, Lt. Michael J. Cleary, was killed in Iraq on December 20th, 2005, over 1,300 more families have suffered the unbearable pain of becoming Gold Star Families, and my heart cries out for each and every one of them,” said Military Families Speak Out member Marianne Cleary of Dallas, Pennsylvania. “Since the beginning of May, 2007 we have seen an average of four new Gold Star families created by this war each and every day. It is past time for this administration and Congress to turn the page on this bloody chapter in history and to listen to what the nation is saying: 'support our troops, bring them home now and take care of them when they get here."

"Unless you have someone that you love more that anything in the world half way across this planet fighting this unjust war, you have no idea what it feels like,” said Military Families Speak Out member Dena Ciferri of Ft. Bliss, Texas whose husband is an Army Sergeant currently serving in Iraq. “W e military families live in a constant state of fear and agony, wondering who will be next. We have lost 3,500 service members and countless Iraqi children, women and men to this war, but it is not too late to prevent another death from happening. I call on Congress to support my husband and all of our troops by fully funding a safe and orderly withdrawal from Iraq, and de-funding this war.”

Members of Military Families Speak Out (MFSO) and Gold Star Families Speak Out are available for interview. Military Families Speak Out is a national organization of over 3,500 military families who are opposed to the war in Iraq; Gold Star Families Speak Out (GSFSO) is a chapter of Military Families Speak Out, made up of families whose loved ones died as a result of the war in Iraq.

For more information about Military Families Speak Out, visit: http://www.mfso.org

For more information about Gold Star Families Speak Out visit http://www.gsfso.org

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[Christa]

1. Oh dear

not to make light of the girl who disappeared and whose body was found - but what about some perspective here :cry:

Our men and women have targets on their backs :cry:

[malaise]

2. How many more must die for this madness?

:cry: :cry:

[dogday]

3. I sit here and pray that

my son will not become one of these numbers... My thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of the fallen.... :hug: