Opportunities that might never have crossed my path were afforded by the Bring Them Home Now Tour, which traveled from Crawford, Texas to Washington, D.C. in September 2005. I was fortunate to participate in the central route, which took us through central Eastern states -- Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

September 11 happened. The next day I was in the recruiting office telling them "Give me Airborne, Give me Infantry". I thought that was the way I could make a difference in the world for the better.

So I went to Infantry school and jump school and I arrived with my unit of the 82nd Airborne Division. I was deployed to Kuwait in February 2003.

Today, Monday, September 19th, a rally in Union Square, featuring veterans, families of active-duty military service people, and parents of soldiers who died in Iraq was disrupted by the New York City Police who broke up the event, arrested an organizer, and confiscated the sound system just as Cindy finished her last sentence.

None of the members of the Tour were arrested, and they will continue to speak the ground truth about this War.

The Central Tour landed in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly (and sisterly) Love, late Wednesday night September 14th, to a happy reception at the home of John Grant, local leader of the VFP. Thursday morning was historic, the Tour members and I were recognized by the Democratic caucus of the Philadelphia City Council. In the ornate and crowded council room a resolution was introduced to honor the Tour and call for the immediate return of the troops. Later in the day the resolution passed the whole council in a 16-1 vote. The resolution was written by Cheryl Cohen, aide to her Dad, David Cohen, a long time progressive councilman and was introduced by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown. The strong resolution can now become a template for other Cities that support our demand to Bring Them Home Now!

The Philadelphia resolution follows by one day a similar resolution by the Chicago City Council calling for an "immediate and orderly" withdrawal from Iraq.

I am a mother of a 19 year old 3/25 Lima Co. Marine serving in Iraq. One third of his Unit has been kia or injured. In early August after losing 22 Marines in less than a week, fearing for my son’s life and driven by conviction, I began my journey to change the direction our country has been going.

I have been waiting for my son’s safe return before speaking out publicly. There is such confusion in our country about patriotism and supporting our troops while being against the war.

As I walked in that hot Crawford ditch August 6th, I sensed the cartilage rip in my left knee. By the time we reached Detroit I couldn't bear my weight on it. I had to leave the tour and return home. I'll need surgical repair of tear, scheduled for next week. I envisage myself temporarily 'in the stands' for a short time, and remain anxious to get back 'on the court'!

Secondly, my son in law, currently stationed just south of the Syrian-Iraq border checked in last week to say it would be a few weeks before he could call home again. Now I understand why. The media reports some sort of insurgent movement into Iraq along that border. Communication shuts down when a soldier is killed until the family is officially notified by the DoD so I owe my daughter the support she needs right now, and hopefully it will be only a matter of time until we hear from him again. Meanwhile, Dakota, my only grandchild doesn't know her father's face.

"Today was a difficult day for many of us, a day of mixed emotions.We joined the nation in observing the anniversary of this tragic day when terrorists attacked the United States.We also realize how this event was used to start the war in Iraq - the war that has brought us all together under these unfortunate circumstances. Needless to say, it was a good day to go to church."
- Dante Zappala, GSFP

"On April 3rd 2004 Mike packed his stuff to return home to Germany where he was to be married three months later. Mike went running that day – when he got back there was a buzz among the troops - They knew something was going on. His commander came and told him that there were 20 soldiers that had been ambushed, 20 soldiers that had been in Iraq for only 5 days. Mike volunteered to go in on a rescue mission. He was killed that day. My son was a strong man, but he was really sensitive – I know that had he survived he would have been irreparably damaged and scarred by what he saw and did that day. "
- Bill Mitchell, GSFP

August 15th was one of the most difficult nights at Camp Casey in Crawford, Texas. That night, a man drove his pickup through "Arlington South" knocking over hundreds of crosses memorializing some of the thousands who have died in the Iraq war. On September 7th, it happened again in Toledo, Ohio.

Patrick Resta has been one of the representatives from Iraq Veterans Against the War on the northern “Bring Them Home Now” tour bus. Resta served as a combat medic in a tank battalion with the North Carolina National Guard from February to November, 2004. Since returning, Resta has been an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq, and a powerful voice in Iraq Veterans Against the War. His aunt and uncle were killed on September 11, 2001 in the attack on the World Trade Center. He is 26 years old, lives in Philadelphia, and is studying to be a nurse at the Community College of Philadelphia. His wife, Melissa Resta, is a member of Military Families Speak Out. Patrick Resta left the Bring Them Home Now Tour on September 5, 2005 to join his National Guard unit that had just been called up to assist with relief efforts on the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

"Stay at home and serve your country" was the slogan used to attract men and women into service to their communities and their country in the National Guard. The promise to the men and women of the Guard was also a promise to citizens of the various states that they would have a force available to them in time of emergency.

One weekend a month, two weeks each year, those who signed up to serve in the state militia known as the National Guard trained to protect Country and Constitution and to provide aid in times of local emergencies such as forest fires, floods, hurricanes, blizzards, and civil unrest. National Guard soldiers have specifically been trained to assist in emergencies such as the one that Hurricane Katrina brought to the Gulf Coast on August 28-29, 2005.

On September 2, 2005 the Veterans for Peace Bus from Mendocino County, CA took a detour to help the victims of hurricane Katrina. We arrived in Covington, LA with food and supplies that Camp Casey had sent from Crawford, Texas.

We are moving some of the Camp Casey operations from the Pine View Middle School to The Green Room at 521 Boston Street in Covington - More information coming ASAP. We are using the school to support Veterans For Peace hurricane relief efforts for the people of the region. We are supporting The Red Cross with power, medical supplies, kitchen service, food bank and distribution, internet communications and trained medical personnel.

For more info go to:

www.vfproadtrips.org