IN OUR OWN WORDS
A Collection of Stories and Photographs
From Military Families of the
Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
To our President and First Lady
On February 27, 2009, in his speech from Camp Lejeune, President Obama said, "…my strategy for ending the war in Iraq does not end with military plans or diplomatic agendas; it endures through our commitment to uphold our sacred trust with every man and woman who has served in Iraq.... And for you and your families, the war does not end when you come home. It lives on in memories of your fellow Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who gave their lives…. You and your families have done your duty; now a grateful nation must do ours….”
“We also know that service does not end with the person wearing the uniform. In her visits with Military Families across the country, my wife Michelle has learned first hand about the unique burden that your families endure every day. I want you to know that Military Families are a top priority for Michelle and me, and they will be a top priority for my administration…. Each of you has your own story. And that story is now a part of the history of the United States of America..."
Recently, on a show from Walter Reed, Oprah talked about Military Families, reminding Americans that every day when we listen to the news, we hear another number, and we go on with our lives. Behind the statistics are real families. An injured service member at Walter Reed said, “No soldier comes back the same - it is a family process. Go to the floor upstairs where the injuries are not seen. They are just as injured as those with physical injuries."
As President Obama works to end the war in Iraq, and the war in Afghanistan continues, the faces and every day lives of Military Families who wait at home will remain at the center of the war and our stories will continue. During war, military family experiences are so much more than can ever be communicated in news reports, care packages, legislation, military or political strategies.
Our MYBO/OFA group, “Military Families Need Obama as We Share the Human Faces of War,” led by military parents and siblings, invites military spouses, children, grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles to be a part of "IN OUR OWN WORDS," a special collection of stories and photographs that will be presented to our President and First Lady.
"IN OUR OWN WORDS" will share the human faces of the consequences of war from the hearts and souls of those who live it everyday. It is intended to serve as a tribute to the lives of Military Families of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and will include both our inspirational and heart breaking experiences, with a special section honoring those service members who have been killed while at war. Together, Military Families will create "IN OUR OWN WORDS” with the hope that as we share our stories, it will lift us all up.
Stories and photographs will only be used in this project to be presented to our President and First Lady. They will not be distributed to any other group, organization, or the media. To learn more about how to participate in this project, please contact one of us:
Debbie: DebbieIngraham@gmail.com
Jessica: JessicaIngraham@gmail.com
Terry: Tdaniel333@comcast.net
We are very grateful for all the prayers and support and for our daughter, Erin's safe return this past week from serving in Iraq. She is doing well, and we are overjoyed to have her back!
Macs for Barack contributed a red imac computer and a printer to the Obama headquarters in Oregon City with my arrival at 3:45 pm today. A beautiful Obama logo had been painted on the back wall and a critical serial/usb cord for a printer had been left behind in Iowa. I ran back home (well, drove) and resurrected the needed cord out of my cord graveyard and within minutes at least the two Macs in the room were printing! Then we had fun turning a leftover roll of paper which had just been used to make welcome home signs for the incoming Marines into a decoration to ring the entire room in Obama's quotes, courtesy of a visionary, a calligrapher, a borrowed ladder, lots of eyes and hands, oh, and a roll of tape and nice long table. What I witnessed this afternoon and into the evening and night, was how a quiet (well, not so much quiet) but, for sure a dedicated group of leaders and volunteers-- just the usual Obama supporters--was able to fill a campaign office with the color of Hope.
We received some hard news this past weekend. Our oldest daughter, Erin, who is a Corporal in the Marine Reserves, has been called up to serve in Iraq for a year. She will go active duty this May and receive training this summer for deployment in August/Sept. to a base camp near Fallujah. While this is a war that I do not support, I am extremely proud of her and our troops that have been put in harms way. I ask for your prayers for us and for an end to the violence that threatens so many lives.
Terry
Administrator:
Macs for Barack
Military Families Need Obama
Audacity of Hope Book Donations for Obama
"When the IED actually exploded, I don't remember that," Woodruff continued. "But I do remember at that moment I saw my body floating below me and ... a whiteness ... I just saw something."
His cameraman, Doug Vogt, who was filming Woodruff at the time of the attack, suffered shrapnel wounds and a broken shoulder. Woodruff was knocked unconscious, his head littered with shrapnel.
Now, in this powerful first-hand account, Woodruff uses the amazing story of his thirteen-month recovery to examine the personal and bureaucratic obstacles that face soldiers recovering from their injuries.
Link src="http://abcnews.go.com/images/WNT/woodruffreports_banner.gif" border="0" alt="ABC" />Tonight on ABC10p.m. EST Click">Link here for info, photos and videos
The special broadcast features IAVA, and includes interviews with numerous troops who have struggled to get the treatment they need. I also get to sit down with Bob Woodruff to talk about the issues facing Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, including Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
We hope you can make time to watch this incredible and important story.
Thank you.
Paul RieckhoffIraq VeteranExecutive Director/FounderIraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Here it is:
"The World's Largest Greeting Card" signed by over one million people then sent to our troops serving in Iraq.
The card is designed to show support and welcome them home. Many of us disagree about when our brothers and sisters serving overseas should come home - some believe two weeks while others say two years, but we all want them to come home safe regardless of the time.
Author and musician James Twyman will present the card at the United Nations in New York when he performs there on April 4th. (James is currently performing 64 concerts in a row during "The Season for Non-Violence," www.64daysofpeace.com) The large card will then be broken up into tens of thousands of smaller versions that will be sent to individual troops serving in Iraq.
Here's how you can add your name to the card:
It takes only 10 seconds.
Using the form on the site listed below type your name and where you're from. You'll then be given a choice of ten fonts that most closely resembles your personal signature. Choose one and send hit "send."
That's it!!!
Your name will be added automatically to the large card and will later be added to one of the thousands of smaller cards that will be sent to an individual soldier.
Imagine an idea that could bring people of every backgroundand belief together - liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats.
There are two motivating factors behind this card:
We live in one of the most polarized times in human history. Won't it be wonderful to come together for one moment on a project that will bring comfort to tens of thousands of our troops?
Go to:
www.BigCardForTroops.com
NASHUA, N.H. - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is apologizing for saying the lives of the more than 3,000 U.S. troops killed in the Iraq war were "wasted."
During his first campaign trip this weekend, the Illinois senator told a crowd in Iowa: "We now have spent $400 billion and have seen over 3,000 lives of the bravest young Americans wasted."
He immediately apologized on Sunday, saying the remark was "a slip of the tongue."
During an appearance Monday in Nashua, N.H., he apologized again, telling reporters he meant to criticize the civilian leadership of the war, not those serving in the military.
"Even as I said it, I realized I had misspoken," Obama said. "It is not at all what I intended to say, and I would absolutely apologize if any (military families) felt that in some ways it had diminished the enormous courage and sacrifice that they'd shown."
The 2007 IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) Legislative Agenda gives Congress 31 actions they can take to really support troops and veterans. Now, we need your help to make it work.
Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Barack Obama (D-IL) have introduced S117, the Lane Evans Act, which would address one of IAVA's Legislative Priorities: establishing mandatory mental health screenings for all returning combat veterans.
This bill would ensure ALL our troops get the counseling they need when they return home from war. The Lane Evans Act has bipartisan support -- but to get it moving, you need to let your legislators in Washington know that you stand behind it.
It only takes five minutes to make a difference for our veterans. Call your two Senators and your Representative today, and urge them to support the Lane Evans Act.
Click">Link here to get your legislators' phone numbers. Below is a rough outline for what you can say when you call:
Script for Calling Your Representatives
"Good Morning/Evening.My name is (Your Name) and I am calling from (City) .I encourage (Name of your Senator/Representative) to stand with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, by passing S. 117 - the Lane Evans Veterans Healthcare & Benefits Improvement Act.I believe that every returning soldier needs and deserves access to mandatory mental health counseling.Thank you and have a good day."Pass this on to three friends, and tell them to do the same. We're not relying on big-money TV ads or lobbyists - we're relying on you, our friends and supporters, to help create real change in Washington. Thank you for standing with us.Sincerely,Patrick CampbellVeteran, Operation Iraqi FreedomLegislative DirectorIraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
"Good Morning/Evening.
My name is (Your Name) and I am calling from (City) .
I encourage (Name of your Senator/Representative) to stand with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, by passing S. 117 - the Lane Evans Veterans Healthcare & Benefits Improvement Act.
I believe that every returning soldier needs and deserves access to mandatory mental health counseling.
Thank you and have a good day."
Pass this on to three friends, and tell them to do the same. We're not relying on big-money TV ads or lobbyists - we're relying on you, our friends and supporters, to help create real change in Washington.
Thank you for standing with us.
Sincerely,
Patrick CampbellVeteran, Operation Iraqi FreedomLegislative DirectorIraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
