Operation Dog Wash

The three dogs left by the departing Troops from my son's Forward Operating Base were in dire need of some grooming. As my son put it, "they smell worse than we do after not bathing for 3 weeks." So..a few dedicated Soldiers set out to rectify the problem, after discussing proper doggy bathing techniques over with the most knowledgable person my kid knew of -- me.

The best advice I could give was to make sure to muzzle the dogs as I was pretty sure their canine pride would be injured in the process and no accidents were needed. Operation Dog Bath went off with no injury to Canines or Soldiers.

The next day, local villagers brought a gift to the Soldiers - 2 young puppies. Smelly puppies. And so Operation Dog Wash II was intitiated.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Camp Bring Em Home

On Sunday - after trecking all around the City of Chicago MFSO Chicago member, Marge spoke at the opening of a community display to bring to the public's attention the human cost of war. A small display was erected in the park just off of the commuter line in Highland Park. Along with North Shore Neighbors for Peace, NPR personality, Aaron Freeman and local community members, we seek to educate and inform the public on what is largely a drive-by war for much of America.

Following that, we kicked off Camp Bring Em Home on Chicago's north west side. The coalition Anti-War Majority held a week long vigil near the office of Democratic Representative Rahm Emanual because of his refusal to take a stand on ending the occupation in Iraq and bringing our sons and daughters home from Iraq.

As part of this, Coalition members posted leadership goals each day for Rep Emanual daily...and read the names of the dead - American Soldiers, Sailors and Marines as well as innocent Iraqi civilians.

As I prepared to speak, I learned of the death of a US Soldier in Afghanistan. It was a very long and agonizing day of waiting and wondering...and praying for the safety of my son even as I felt guilty because I knew that another family would be shattered with the tragic and unnecessary news. Later I had an email from my son.

 

  

  

  

  

Festival of Rights March - Magnificent Mile

  

  

  

  

Union Park Rally

  

MFSO Chicago!

We are trying hard to organize. Our first MFSO Chicago event surrounded the 3rd Anniversary of the War March and Rally held in Chicago on March 19. We started on the Federal Plaza where we met up with several peace groups from the city. MFSO spoke calling for our troops to be brought home now...and for Congress to act to take care of them when they get here. Then we lead the group on a march to Union Park. On that march, we were joined by students from the University of Chicago.