Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Memorial Day in the US
On a hot and sunny Memorial Day, Members of Lake Area Peace Partners and Military Families Speak Out marched in support of Bill Schuerer's campaign for Congress. Bill, a member of Military Families Speak Out, is running an independant campaign in an effort to give voters a choice. The incumbant Democrat in the district is essentially right of center on issues that matter to many - especially the war in Iraq...as is her Republican opponent.
We marched behind a group of antique cars and ahead of a Catholic Grade School. The parade was well attended. We met an Illinois Guardsman who will deploy with his unit next month to Iraq.
A Gold Star Mom from the western suburbs wrote an excellent piece for the Tribune for the holiday. The link can be found here.
Another MFSO Mom marched with Rep Jan Shakovsky on the North Shore.
Unfortunately, our MFSO member scheduled to speak at the Chicago VVAW event broke her leg (ouch!) and a substitute speaker could not be found. We wish her a speedy recovery.
Pictures from Wauconda will be posted above.
We marched behind a group of antique cars and ahead of a Catholic Grade School. The parade was well attended. We met an Illinois Guardsman who will deploy with his unit next month to Iraq.
A Gold Star Mom from the western suburbs wrote an excellent piece for the Tribune for the holiday. The link can be found here.
Another MFSO Mom marched with Rep Jan Shakovsky on the North Shore.
Unfortunately, our MFSO member scheduled to speak at the Chicago VVAW event broke her leg (ouch!) and a substitute speaker could not be found. We wish her a speedy recovery.
Pictures from Wauconda will be posted above.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Memorial Day Weekend in Afghanistan
I have heard from my son over the past few days. Initially, he was tired, hoarse and distracted on the phone. He is not permitted to tell me where he is...and his only comment on his activities is "I am doing my job."
The next phone call revealed that he is still able to gripe about his three favorite topics: FOOD (not enough, stinks, etc.), WEATHER (hot, dusty, dirty) and FATIGUE. Later he added BOREDOM to the list. Now, I LIKE BOREDOM. It sounds a lot like "doing nothing"; resting and recharging. The "doing my job" part is very frightening.
The next phone call revealed that he is still able to gripe about his three favorite topics: FOOD (not enough, stinks, etc.), WEATHER (hot, dusty, dirty) and FATIGUE. Later he added BOREDOM to the list. Now, I LIKE BOREDOM. It sounds a lot like "doing nothing"; resting and recharging. The "doing my job" part is very frightening.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Baghdad ER
A friend of mine taped this documentary for me. It was both awful...and amazing.
I am not unfamiliar with trauma, having had a long career as an ICU tech but seldom in a civilian hospital do we see such horrific injury. And with amazing grace and skill under the most difficult of circumstances, these medical teams pull out 90% of the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines they treat.
The documentary hinted at the cost to these doctors, nurses and medics but it did not delve into it. In order to be effective in these jobs, one must be driven, creative and fearless. The downside to that is the fact that no matter how good and how skilled you are - you simply can't save everyone. The loss of a patient is always personal especially when that patient is young and healthy. Doing that job day in and day out for a year where the vast majority of the people you treat are young healthy people must grind upon their souls.
Thanks guys for what you do. Thanks for always giving 200%.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
The News is Not Good
For several days we have heard stories of fierce fighting in various areas of Afghanistan. Many people have lost their lives. Since I no longer know where my son is, all of the headlines make me kind of crazy.
The pundits are having a field day (from a long and safe distance) quarterbacking the news stories. Some are now on board with the fact that Afghanistan is a "failed state." Well no duh! The country has been occupied for 5 years, living conditions for many people are desperate...and not improving much. The largest cash crop produced in this agricultural country is the opium poppy and despite the talk of "spreading freedom" that comes from Washington, I am pretty sure that the average person would settle for no bombs in their country...and perhaps food to feed their family.
And so the reporters will report - using the most eye catching language possible; the politicians will thump their chests about "freedom and democracy" and the boots on the ground will surely continue to die...along with many poor Afghan civilians.
Bring Em On...huh George?
The pundits are having a field day (from a long and safe distance) quarterbacking the news stories. Some are now on board with the fact that Afghanistan is a "failed state." Well no duh! The country has been occupied for 5 years, living conditions for many people are desperate...and not improving much. The largest cash crop produced in this agricultural country is the opium poppy and despite the talk of "spreading freedom" that comes from Washington, I am pretty sure that the average person would settle for no bombs in their country...and perhaps food to feed their family.
And so the reporters will report - using the most eye catching language possible; the politicians will thump their chests about "freedom and democracy" and the boots on the ground will surely continue to die...along with many poor Afghan civilians.
Bring Em On...huh George?
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Mother's Day Phone Call Home - Sort of
A hasty phone call home to say "We are moving - I probably will not be able to call for a while" and a hastily written email "Please call Grandma and tell her Happy Mother's Day - I won't have time".
My Soldier hasn't been home for three Mother's Days now...He will miss Father's Day, The Fourth of July, Family Birthday's and all of those small celebrations that is the glue that binds a family together.
Simply put, we miss him...
My Soldier hasn't been home for three Mother's Days now...He will miss Father's Day, The Fourth of July, Family Birthday's and all of those small celebrations that is the glue that binds a family together.
Simply put, we miss him...
Monday, May 15, 2006
Silence of the Dead - Voices of the Living
On Mother's Day weekend, Gold Star Families, Vets from Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam and other conflicts, Military Families, Surviving Family Members from 9/11 and the American Friends Service Committee brought a human face of the current War in Iraq to the Mall in Washington DC.
As I got off of the Metro at the Smithsonian Station on Friday afternoon, I saw row upon row of empty combat boots. These boots, placed at precise intervals, represented the 2437 members of the Military that had given their lives in Iraq. In several winding paths, hundreds of empty shoes, many woman's and childen's shoes, represented the innocent Iraqi civilians who have died. In the center of the display, stood a large pictogram featuring portraits of Iraqi people, smiling and going about the business of life. The inside of the pictogram told the story of war and occupation.
On the stage, volunteers read the names, American and Iraqi who have died in a war of choice, based upon "faulty intelligence" and/or intelligence poorly used by our leadership. Visitors to the Mall wandered through the boots and shoes - many taking the time to read personal momentos left by family and friends to honor their loved ones - now gone. I saw several grade school groups go through the exhibit - with the exuberance of youth giving way to a somber moment as they reflected upon what those boots and shoes meant. Many were on their way to other monuments on the Mall...honoring American's who during other conflicts had lost their lives in the service of their country.
I could not read names that day...the sadness was almost overwhelming. I had not met any of the people who once had inhabited those boots or shoes, but I do know some of their family members and they have shared their stories with me.
My room mate for the weekend was a Soldier's Mom from Oregan. Her daughter was riding in a helicopter that was shot down in Iraq in 2004. She survived the incident but sustained a badly broken leg that sadly, has not been properly cared for...and has resulted in permenant damage to the leg. These stories are common: one family had lost their son to suicide a year after returning from Iraq. He suffered from extreme PTSD and was not afforded care through the VA.
Despite both email invitations and those sent via "snail mail" none of my elected Representatives chose to visit the Exhibit. I guess it is difficult to see the human lives impacted by the policy you vote for. Some family members met with their elected representatives...I hand delivered letters to the offices of Barak Obama and Richard Durbin from people in the area who had kids serving...and others simply concerned with the death and destruction brought about by this war of choice.
On Saturday, led off by members of Iraq Vets Against the War, we marched to the Capitol in silent protest. Along the route, I saw many people embrace and a few cried as we approached. Some flashed peace signs and some bowed their heads.
When the March finished up, several Vets, Family members and others spoke to the crowd that had gathered. Each spoke to the personal cost of the policy approved by our elected representatives. Most spoke of loss. Sadly, we had to add several pairs of boots to the display that weekend - including a pair representing the son of a long time MFSO member. Her son died of injuries sustained in combat in the Military Hospital in Germany. His funeral will be held at the National Cathederal in Washington DC...and he will be buried in Arlington with other sons of MFSO members.
Because of predicted bad weather, a decision was made to strike the Exhibit a day early. Carefully, volunteers stuffed the boots with newspaper to absorb the rain. A few people from Illinois joined me in caring for the boots from those who had died from Illinois. We cared for 94 pairs of boots.
As I got off of the Metro at the Smithsonian Station on Friday afternoon, I saw row upon row of empty combat boots. These boots, placed at precise intervals, represented the 2437 members of the Military that had given their lives in Iraq. In several winding paths, hundreds of empty shoes, many woman's and childen's shoes, represented the innocent Iraqi civilians who have died. In the center of the display, stood a large pictogram featuring portraits of Iraqi people, smiling and going about the business of life. The inside of the pictogram told the story of war and occupation.
On the stage, volunteers read the names, American and Iraqi who have died in a war of choice, based upon "faulty intelligence" and/or intelligence poorly used by our leadership. Visitors to the Mall wandered through the boots and shoes - many taking the time to read personal momentos left by family and friends to honor their loved ones - now gone. I saw several grade school groups go through the exhibit - with the exuberance of youth giving way to a somber moment as they reflected upon what those boots and shoes meant. Many were on their way to other monuments on the Mall...honoring American's who during other conflicts had lost their lives in the service of their country.
I could not read names that day...the sadness was almost overwhelming. I had not met any of the people who once had inhabited those boots or shoes, but I do know some of their family members and they have shared their stories with me.
My room mate for the weekend was a Soldier's Mom from Oregan. Her daughter was riding in a helicopter that was shot down in Iraq in 2004. She survived the incident but sustained a badly broken leg that sadly, has not been properly cared for...and has resulted in permenant damage to the leg. These stories are common: one family had lost their son to suicide a year after returning from Iraq. He suffered from extreme PTSD and was not afforded care through the VA.
Despite both email invitations and those sent via "snail mail" none of my elected Representatives chose to visit the Exhibit. I guess it is difficult to see the human lives impacted by the policy you vote for. Some family members met with their elected representatives...I hand delivered letters to the offices of Barak Obama and Richard Durbin from people in the area who had kids serving...and others simply concerned with the death and destruction brought about by this war of choice.
On Saturday, led off by members of Iraq Vets Against the War, we marched to the Capitol in silent protest. Along the route, I saw many people embrace and a few cried as we approached. Some flashed peace signs and some bowed their heads.
When the March finished up, several Vets, Family members and others spoke to the crowd that had gathered. Each spoke to the personal cost of the policy approved by our elected representatives. Most spoke of loss. Sadly, we had to add several pairs of boots to the display that weekend - including a pair representing the son of a long time MFSO member. Her son died of injuries sustained in combat in the Military Hospital in Germany. His funeral will be held at the National Cathederal in Washington DC...and he will be buried in Arlington with other sons of MFSO members.
Because of predicted bad weather, a decision was made to strike the Exhibit a day early. Carefully, volunteers stuffed the boots with newspaper to absorb the rain. A few people from Illinois joined me in caring for the boots from those who had died from Illinois. We cared for 94 pairs of boots.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Tragic Events
On May 5, a helicopter crashed in the mountains of northeast Afghanistan. 10 Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division from Ft. Drum died in the crash. One of the soldiers was from downstate Illinois. Prayers and heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of these brave Soldiers...and thanks to those who undertook the difficult task of recovering them from the rugged and difficult area in which the crash occurred.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
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