2011 has been a year of changes for MFSO both internally and externally. The war in Iraq is coming to an end, yet there will still be a significant U.S. Military presence in the region. For many families, the war will never truly be over. Despite President Obama’s announced draw-down in Afghanistan, the war rages on, and our service members are still being deployed and put in harm’s...
President Obama has declared November 2011 the first ever Military Family Appreciation Month. What can MFSO do for Military Family Appreciation Month? Please submit ideas in the comments, or email samantha@mfso.org ...
The nightmare continues… From Pat Alviso and Jeff Merrick, Long Beach Ca. Parents of Marine who has been deployed 4 times As a loving family, along with our son, who is a career Marine, we watched in horror when we invaded Afghanistan and the drumbeat for war lead into the senseless invasion and occupation of Iraq. Military families have paid dearly- over 4,000 of our loved ones are gone forever. Hundreds of thousands of...
In Our Breath and On the Wind From Celeste Zappala, Mother of Sgt Sherwood Baker, KIA 4/26/04 Baghdad I heard the news of the war ending late on Friday. It seemed an odd time to release such serious news, and made my family and I think that this news was being treated just as the war has been treated for years, it is inconsequential to the American public, a bad after thought not even worth a...
It is still a bit hard to believe: after almost 9 years, the Iraq War – this war that should never have started, that inspired the largest protests the world had ever seen, that cost the lives of 4,470 service members and unknown thousands of Iraqi civilians – will officially come to an end.As military families, we rejoice when any troops come home, and we are relieved our loved ones will never again be...
MFSO Member Paula Rogovin reflects on Occupy Wall St. On Saturday, October 8, 2011, members of Military Families Speak Out stood alongside members of Veterans For Peace and thousands of other people at Occupy Wall Street. We were so happy to see so many people from so many walks of life. Here was a place where the messages like the ones we carried: Support our troops, bring them home NOW! were part of the outcry...
A Gold River home Sunday became a command post in the campaign to prepare families for more than 70,000 U.S. troops – at least 22,000 Californians – scheduled to come home from Iraq and Afghanistan by next summer. By Steve Magagnini Sacramento Bee Published: Monday, Oct. 17, 2011 – 12:00 am | Page 1B Sacramento area Military Families Speak Out (MFSO) presented a panel of experts to help local families cope with returning veterans struggling...
Click here to listen to the full program A decade after the attacks of September 11th, the war in Afghanistan continues to take its toll on Afghans and Americans alike. In the fight against the Taliban and Al Qaeda, thousands of lives have been lost and millions have been affected. To mark the tenth anniversary of 9/11 and honor the sacrifices made by both Afghans and Americans, America Abroad Media, WAMU 88.5 FM, and...
On this page you will find examples of art made by members of Military Families Speak Out, reflecting on their experiences over the last decade of war. “I’ve Come to Take My Boy Home” a play by Dave Lambert, MFSO Indiana – click here to download This is a short anti-war play, with two characters, Vivian and Jerry. Vivian is middle-aged, with a son in the military. She has been an activist for several...
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2011 BY ANDREA ALEXANDER, STAFF WRITER *click here for a video interview with MFSO Teaneck chapter leader Paula Rogovin* Parents of children who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan joined veterans and other activists in front of the Teaneck Armory Wednesday to call for an end to the wars. Anti war activists mark the 6th anniversary of the weekly Teaneck Peace Vigil. (center) Henry Shoiket, of Rutherford, uses a bullhorn. The group of...
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...