Gold Star Families for Peace

Gold Star Families for Peace (GSFP) is an affiliate of the organization Military Families Speak Out.

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August Vigil in Crawford, Texas

On August 3, 2005, President George W. Bush "said speaking about the dreadful loss of life in Iraq in August:

"We have to honor the sacrifices of the fallen by completing the mission."

"The families of the fallen can be assured that they died for a noble cause."

"In reaction to these two assinine and hurtful statements, members of Gold Star Families for Peace (GSFP) [went] to George's vacation home in Crawford, Tx ... Saturday, August 6th [2005] at 11:00 am to confront him on these two statements." --Gold Star Families for Peace website.

Sheehan was "[s]upported by more than 50 demonstrators who chanted, 'W. killed her son!'" Cindy Sheehan told reporters that she wanted to ask President Bush "'Why did you kill my son? What did my son die for?'," Associated Press reporter Deb Reichmann wrote August 7, 2005.

Although she did not speak with Bush, Sheehan "did talk for about 45 minutes with national security adviser Steve Hadley and deputy White House chief of staff Joe Hagin, who went out to hear her concerns," Reichmann reported.

"Sheehan arrived in Crawford aboard a bus painted red, white, and blue and emblazoned with the words Impeachment Tour." The Vacaville, Calif., resident had been attending a Veterans for Peace Convention in Dallas.

"She vowed to camp out as close as she could get to the president's ranch until Bush comes out and talks to her. Police were keeping her group about 4 to 5 miles away from the ranch entrance." [1]

Re vacation, see George W. Bush: The War President is Missing in Action.

External Links

• Cindy Sheehan, "Taking the Message to Bush: 'Honor' Our Soldiers by Bringing Them All Home Now; If Cause is 'Noble,' Send Jenna and Barbara. Gold Star Families for Peace, Veteran's for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Code Pink, and Crawford Peace House Will Hold Protest in Crawford on Saturday, August 6th," BuzzFlash, August 3, 2005.
• Julie Mason, "Bush says it's no vacation at his Crawford ranch," Houston Chronicle, August 6, 2005: "This weekend, some activity was expected in the form of anti-war protests by the Gold Star Families for Peace, an organization of families who have lost sons or daughters in Iraq and Afghanistan. ... In an e-mail to members, the protest organizers instructed those traveling to Crawford to bring hats and water."
• "Angry Mom Protests President," CBS News/Associated Press, August 6, 2005.
• Richard W. Stevenson, "Mother Takes Protest to Bush's Ranch," New York Times, August 7, 2005.
• Michael Hedges, "Anti-war protesters go after Bush at home. Group, which included mothers of soldiers killed in Iraq, is halted 5 miles from ranch," Houston Chronicle, August 7, 2005.
• "Protesters march on Bush's ranch," Aljazeera, August 7, 2005: "About 70 anti-war protesters shouting 'bring the troops home' from Iraq have gathered near President George Bush's ranch, prompting two White House officials to come out to meet mothers who lost children in combat in Iraq."
• "CBS Evening News, NBC Sunday Today and CNN Sunday Morning Cover Cindy's Protest," MeetWithCindy.org, August 6, 2005.
• "Soldier's mom digs in near Bush ranch. Senator sees 'echoes of Vietnam' in vigil to meet president," CNN, August 7, 2005.
• Edward Chen, "Bush Aides Meet Angry Mother of Fallen Soldier. The California woman, unassuaged, says she'll wait in Texas to discuss Iraq with the president," Los Angeles Times, August 7, 2005.
• Deb Reichmann, "Soldier's mother protests near Bush ranch," Associated Press (Boston Globe), August 7, 2005; also see CNN/AP and MSNBC/AP versions online.
• Deb Reichmann, "Protest mom met Bush in '04," Chicago Sun-Times, August 8, 2005.
• William Rivers Pitt, "Every Mother's Son," truthout.org (peacejournalism.com), August 8, 2005; also posted on AlterNet.
• Edward Chen, "Grieving mother tries to call Bush to account," The Age, August 8, 2005.
• Elisabeth Bumiller, "Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch, Redefining 'Vacation'," New York Times (also International Herald Tribune), August 8, 2005.
• "Grieving mom may have worn out welcome outside Bush's ranch," 11 News KHOU (Houston), August 8, 2005.
• Oren Odell, "Slain soldier’s mother keeps protest vigil at Bush ranch," Army Times (USA Today), August 8, 2005.
• "Cindy, Crawford, and the Bush Smear Machine," Attytood, August 8, 2005.
• Cindy Sheehan, "Day 3 of the Peace Occupation of Crawford," DailyKos, August 9, 2005.
• Richard W. Stevenson, "Fallen soldier's mother vows vigil to see Bush," New York Times (also International Herald Tribune), August 9, 2005.
• "Interview with Cindy Sheehan on Laura Flanders," MeetWithCindy.org, August 9, 2005.
• Joan Vennochi, "Mr. Bush, let's talk," Boston Globe, August 9, 2005.
• Debra J. Saunders, "War reports -- we'd be Brits," San Francisco Chronicle, August 9, 2005.
• "Military Families to Join Cindy Sheehan in Crawford; Gold Star and Military Families from Across Country on Their Way to Texas," US Newswire, August 9, 2005.
• "Our absent leader," Brattleboro Reformer (Vermont), August 9, 2005.
• "Vacaville Mother Leads Anti-War Protest Outside Bush Texas Ranch," KXTV News10 (Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, CA), August 9, 2005.

GSFP Overview

Mission Statement

"We as families of soldiers who have died as a result of war (primarily, but not limited to the invasion/occupation of Iraq) are organizing to be a positive force in our world to bring our country’s sons and daughters home from Iraq, to minimize the 'human cost' of this war, and to prevent other families from the pain we are feeling as the result of our losses. We are also hoping to be lifetime support for each other through our losses." [2]

Purpose

• To bring an end to the occupation of Iraq.
• To be a support group for Gold Star Families.

Founding Members

• Cindy and Pat Sheehan: Their son Army Spc. Casey A. Sheehan was KIA in Sadr City Baghdad on April 4, 2004.
• Jane and Jim Bright: Jane's son Army Sgt. Evan Ashcraft was KIA in Mosul Iraq on July 24, 2003.
• Bill Mitchell: Bill's son Army Sgt. Michael Mitchell was KIA in Sadr City Baghdad on April 4, 2004.
• Celeste Zappala: Celeste' son Army Sgt. Sherwood Baker was KIA in Baghdad on April 26, 2004.
• Lila Lipscomb: Lila's son Army Sgt. Michael Pederson was KIA on April 2, 2003 in Iraq.
• Sue Niederer: Sue's son Lt.Seth J. Dvorin was KIA on 02/03/04
• Dede Miller: Army Spc. Casey Sheehans Auntie

Contact details

URL: http://www.gsfp.org/

Related SourceWatch Resources

• After Downing Street
• Bring Them Home Now!
• CODEPINK: Women for Peace
• Downing Street documents
• International Occupation Watch Center in Iraq
• Iraq Veterans Against the War
• Iraq Coalition Casualty Statistics
• Operation Iraqi Freedom
• Operation Iraqi Freedom: Year Three: Quagmire
• Operation Truth
• peace movement
• United for Peace and Justice
• Veterans For Peace

External Links

Profiles

• Gold Star Families for Peace in the Wikipedia.

Websites

• Crawford Peace House website.
• MeetWithCindy.org website.

Press & News Releases

• "Military Families Call for Truth Regarding Downing St. Memo," June 14, 2005 (posted on Common Dreams website).

Interviews

• Kevin Zeese, "Memorial Day Interview (with Cindy Sheehan): Gold Star Families for Peace," Democracy Rising, May 30, 2005; also posted on antiwar.com website.
• Eric Ruder, Interview with Cindy Sheehan: "'They died for a lie'," Socialist Worker, June 24, 2005.

Articles & Commentary

• Cindy Sheehan, "The Dangerous Gold Star Families," Common Dreams, January 24, 2005.
• "Military Families, Gold Star Families and Iraq War Veterans Speak Out on Bush's State of the Union Address: Bring the Troops Home NOW," US Newswire, February 2, 2005.
• Evelyn Nieves, "For Some, a Loss in Iraq Turns Into Antiwar Activism. Gold Star Families Band Together to 'Make People Care'," Washington Post, February 22, 2005.
• Clarisse Jones, "Soldiers' families to hold anti-war rally at Ft. Bragg," USA Today, March 17, 2005.
• Frank E. Lockwood, "Mother of dead soldier vilifies Bush over war. President Ridiculed at Interfaith Rally," Lexington Herald, June 14, 2005.
• David Henson, "Bush, Sheehans share moments," The Reporter (Vacaville, CA), June 24, 2005.
• Greg Szymanski, "Mom, Who Lost Son In Iraq, Talks About 'Disgusting' White House Private Meeting With Bush," LewisNews, July 5, 2005.
• goplies, "Veterans for Peace Convention," MyDD, July 20, 2005.