Commemorating 10 Years of War
On September 11th, 2001, a tragedy changed our nation forever. 10 years later, we are living with the consequences of our nation’s response to that tragedy. In the last decade, thousands of military families have dealt with their own tragedies of losing a loved one in combat or by suicide. Thousands more continue to suffer from the wounds of war. Many of these wounds are visible. Some are not. And still thousands more will lose sleep, cry, and worry, as their loved ones will be deployed over the next three years. As military families, we know the true costs of war.
From September 7th to October 7th, MFSO is partnering with Iraq Veterans Against the War, War Resisters League, United for Peace & Justice, and 10 Years and Counting for a month of arts and education to commemorate 10 years of war and begin building bridges of understanding between communities directly affected by the war and the war economy. We aim to link the challenges faced by Afghans, Iraqis, active duty service members, veterans and military families as those who most directly feel the horrors of war with teachers, students, the homeless, former homeowners, labor and others who feel the domestic crisis brought on by the waste of military spending and greed.
What you can do:
Send us your poetry, music, photographs, and visual art. We invite you to create something marking the 10 year anniversary of our nation at war. We can use this unfortunate, yet historic moment as inspiration and maximize the power of creativity to illustrate the costs of war, or how 10 years of warfare have affected you personally. Throughout the month we will be showcasing art from military families, veterans, and service members on our website, as well as on the 10 Years and Counting website. Email your submission(s) to samantha@mfso.org. Click here for more information.
We also encourage you to organize an arts or education event between September 7th and October 7th. We will be sending out popular education curriculum on the war economy, voices from Afghanistan, and the costs of war to veterans and military families for you to use, as well as resources to connect with artists in your community and advice on organizing a cultural event. For help organizing an event, contact samantha@mfso.org. We’ll be sending out more information soon.
Troop suicides deserve nation’s condolences
President Barack Obama reversed Wednesday the longstanding US policy of not sending out condolence letters to the families of American troops who commit suicide while deployed in combat zones.
Families who’s loved ones commit suicide after returning home will still not receive a condolence letter. According to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, 2/3rds of military suicides happen when service members return home.
Kevin Lucey, whose son Jeffrey Lucey took his own life after returning from Iraq with PTSD, was interviewed on Democracy Now and wrote an editorial entitled “Troop suicides deserves nation’s condolences” calling on President Obama to acknowledge all the casualties of the wars, not just those that happen in combat zones.
Contact your Rep: Vote NO on Defense Appropriations
Starting tonight, Congress will be voting on the FY 2012 Defense Appropriations bill. The bill commits $118 billion to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and $530 billion to the Pentagon, consuming over 50% of all discretionary spending at a time when communities are suffering from chronic unemployment and under-funded public services.
Now that the Obama Administration has decided to continue the war in Afghanistan until at least 2014, we need our Representatives to stand up and say “No!”
Please contact your Representative TODAY:
Click here to email your Representative
Call the Congressional switchboard at 202-225-3121
MFSO Orange County Stages Die-In
My Son Leaves for Afghanistan July 25, 2011
-DAY #1: Text Message, Sunday, June 19, 2011 @ 9:50 am-
Mom: Did you make it to your new base okay? Call when you can. Love you.
Son: Everything is good
Mom: Keep me posted! Let me know when and how we can communicate.
Son: Okay I will
-1:59 pm-
Son: Hey the 3-71 Cav 3rd Brigade 10th Mountain left in Feb or March. Some guys are leaving late next month. It’s 50/50 if I go.
Mom: How do they decide? Did they go to Afghanistan? Kandahar?
Son: I don’t know how they decide. They went to Kandahar.
-DAY #2: Text Message, Monday, June 20, 2011 @ 9:19 am-
Son: I was told I would be going some time in the next 30 days
Mom: That soon? Are others going? Will you be able to give us a date?
Son: Yes there are others going. No date yet
Mom: How do you feel about going to Afghanistan? Do you feel prepared? Does it scare you?
Son: I really don’t want to talk about it right now
-DAY #3: Text message, Tuesday, June 21, 2011 @ 4:15 pm-
Son: I leave July 25th for Afghanistan
Mom: Can I come with you?
Hi, my name is Patty. I am the Mom of a 10th Mountain Division U.S. soldier. My 21-year old son graduated from his AIT (Army Intensive Training) on June 9, 2011. On June 18th, he re- ported to Fort Drum, NY. On July 25th he is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan.
3-days was all it took for my world to crash. 3-days was all it took for the U.S. military to change my son from the “new soldier on the block” to “the next soldier to be deployed”. I still have not wrapped my mind around the fact that my son is really going to Afghanistan. Only a few days ago I listened as President Obama publicly announced his “plan” to bring home 33,000 U.S. troops by September 2012, leaving 68,000 to continue in this war that has no promise of end in sight. I had small hopes as I listened, that President Obama would hear the cries of a nation to bring their children home. I had small hopes that President Obama would see the desperation of a nation plagued by unemployment, loss of homes, lack of health care, declining educational insti- tutions, communities devastated by natural disasters, and bring the war dollars home. I had small hopes that President Obama would speak to a nation of people with words of encouragement and hope. I had small hopes that President Obama would say “Troops, job well-done. It is time for you ALL to come home.”
Small hopes, while small, are still hopes. Yet this morning, as I write this, my small hopes have become unstoppable tears. Tears for the more than 6,000 soldiers that will not be walking through doors to be embraced by their loved ones. Tears for the many soldiers wounded, whose lives will forever be impacted and changed by this “war on terror”. Tears for the thousands of civilians wounded or killed under the guise of imposing self-determination. Tears for the loved ones who sit by the phone waiting to hear the voice of their soldier. Tears for the loved ones fear- ful to answer that knock on the door. Tears for those that may still be lost.
As the President’s drawdown plan begins to permeate my life, many questions arise.
Mr. President, if you are really planning on bringing our troops home, why are there soldiers now waiting to be deployed?
I understand the theory of rotating troops. I understand the advantages of rotating the troops; rested soldiers have higher morale and are better suited to keep the enemy engaged. I also under- stand the disadvantages of rotating the troops; the strategy requires additional planning and man- agement skills. It also requires a heavier investment in personnel, training and equipment.
Mr. President, as U.S. soldiers return home, shouldn’t it be the responsibility of the Afghan gov- ernment to fill their replacement? We’ve been there for 10-years, surely we have provided enough training to allow the Afghans to begin to defend themselves and define their own road to self-determination.
Mr. President, what do you consider victory in Afghanistan? Are you “holding out” on bringing our troops home until we have reached your definition of victory? How long can you continue to ignore 73% of the nation wanting the war in Afghanistan to end? How many more soldiers must sacrifice their lives for you to bring them home? How many more dollars that are needed here at home, must be deflected to a cause that fewer and fewer believe in?
And many other questions that still remain to be answered.
In the meantime, my hopes that became tears, quickly becomes rage. Rage at feeling helpless to make a difference. Rage at feeling hopeless that the people will ever be heard by a government removed. Rage that as a Mom, I can’t make the journey to Afghanistan with my son. I’ve been there through all of the other scary situations he has faced; sometimes to alleviate the fear, some- times to help heal the wound, sometimes to show the way, and sometimes to just hold his hand. Now I am being asked to stay behind. Now I am being asked to trust. Now I am being asked to wait as my son makes a journey to a land where outcomes are unknown.
I now start almost every conversation the same. My name is Patty, and I AM the Mom of a 10th Mountain Division U.S. Soldier. I now begin and end my day with the same prayer;
“Please help me find a way to be heard. Please let me find a way to help end this war and to bring them all home. Help me find a way to get up everyday and do what I have to do and to not be frozen by my fears. Please help me find a way to support my son.”
Hopes, while small, are still hopes. Tears while they become rage, are still empowering. I will not be quiet. I will not go away. I will not let the powers-that-be forget what is at stake. I will not let anyone forget that ending this war matters to me. I will not let anyone forget mine or anyone else’s soldier. It is time to bring them all home now!
Patty Bennett Mom of 10th Mountain Division U.S. Soldier & Member of Military Families Speak Out
Video: Military Families and Vets Respond to President Obama
Media Round-Up: MFSO Responds to Obama’s Withdrawal Plan
Anna Berlinrut, whose son is currently in Afghanistan, was interviewed on Between the Lines radio program.
Pat Alviso, Southern California chapter leader, whose son recently returned from Afghanistan, was interviewed on NBC before Obama’s speech presenting his plan for a slow withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Pat Alviso and her husband, MFSO Board Member Jeff Merrick, hosted a viewing party at their home in Long Beach attended by members of MFSO, Gold Star Families Speak Out, Veterans for Peace, and the media. Photos of the viewing party were picked up by the Associated Press and run alongside the articles about Obama’s speech in many newspapers and websites around the country.
The LA Times used a photo of MFSO Board Member Rossana Cambron at the viewing party, whose son is currently serving in Iraq.
Reuter’s quoted MFSO’s official response in their international article on the President’s withdrawal plan – in English and Spanish.