MFSO Open Letter to Congress: Support Our Troops and De-fund the War!
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2007 10:26:12 -0500


Dear Friends,

Today Military Families Speak Out faxed a letter to 535 Senators and Members of Congress saying: Support our Troops and De-Fund the War! It was signed by over 200 MFSO members with loved ones currently serving in Iraq or about to deploy/re-deploy. The letter and the press release can be found at the urls below - they are also attached. Please forward to everyone you know!

Open Letter: http://www.mfso.org/downloads/OpenLetter.pdf
Press Release: http://www.mfso.org/downloads/2-15-07%20Open%20Letter%20to%20Congress%20Release%205.pdf

In Peace and Solidarity,
Nancy Lessin and Charley Richardson
Co-founders, Military Families Speak Out
www.mfso.org

Military Families
Speak Out
P.O. Box 300549, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
www.mfso.org - mfso@mfso.org • 617-983-0710

February 15, 2007
Dear Senators and Members of Congress,

We are members of Military Families Speak Out, whose loved ones are currently serving in Iraq, or
are soon to be deployed or re-deployed to Iraq. No one is more concerned about the safety and wellbeing
of our troops than we are – they are our sons, daughters, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters,
fiancés, grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, mothers and fathers.

You will soon be voting on President Bush’s supplemental budget request that will allow the war in
Iraq to continue. Many of you are saying that in order to support our troops, you must once again
fund the war. The President is not asking for funding for our troops – he is looking for funding to
continue this war that is so damaging to our loved ones and all of our troops. The most important
thing you can do to protect those who swore an oath to protect us all is to vote against this
supplemental appropriations request.

We know that there are funds available to bring our troops out quickly and safely. If more is needed,
funds from the Department of Defense budget could be re-programmed for this purpose.

Senators and Members of Congress, you need to know that by continuing to fund this war and
leaving our loved ones in Iraq, you are abandoning them.

Make no mistake about this, you can not both oppose and fund this war.

You may be afraid for your political futures, and afraid of being “swift-boated” if you were to vote to
de-fund the war. We are afraid for the lives of our loved ones. Three U.S. servicemen and women are
dying each day, along with countless Iraqi children, women and men. We are afraid that if we are
lucky enough to get our loved ones home, they will return as hollow-eyed strangers suffering from
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The Constitution gave Congress the ‘power of the purse’ for a reason. We urge you, we expect you,
to use this power now. And we will stand with all who will now support our troops by voting against
the funds that allow this war to continue.

But if you vote to continue funding the war in Iraq, it will no longer be President Bush’s war. It will
be yours. If you fund it, you’ve bought it and you own it. And we will remember.

We are asking that you show the courage and leadership that our loved ones have shown when they
signed up to defend the Constitution of the United States. Ending this war is the right thing to do.
And you are the people who can make it happen.

Don’t abandon our troops – de-fund this war.

Sincerely,
[See four signature pages attached]

Dena Ciferri
Fort Bliss, TX
Husband in the Army
currently serving in Iraq

Mark T. Ivie
San Jose, CA
Son in the Army
recently redeployed to Iraq

Michael and Valeri Murphy
Austin, TX
Son in Army
currently serving in Iraq

Angela Summers
Spring, TX
Son in Army
serving 2nd deployment in Iraq

Roberta Furst
Seattle, Washington
Husband in Army
serving 2nd deployment in Iraq

Paula Scott
Bucyrus, MO
Son in National Guard
serving 2nd deployment in Iraq

Julie Anderson
Wood River, IL
Son in the Air Force
currently serving in Iraq

Julie Akers
Newtonville, NJ
Son in the National Guard
currently serving in Iraq

April Dreeke
Pittsburgh, PA
Brother in the Army
currently serving in Iraq

Julie Fredette
Kernersville, NC
Husband currently serving
14 month deployment in Iraq

Tina Marie Minetto
Charlotte Hall, MD
Son in the Army
currently serving in Iraq

Susan Martimo
Roseville, CA
Son in the Marines
serving 2nd deployment in Iraq

Crystal Mathisrud
Ellsworth, WI
Husband in Army National
Guard
currently serving in Iraq

Deborah Barquinero
Mcminnville, OR
Son in the Army
serving 2nd deployment in Iraq

Marney Collins Sims
Cypress, TX
Brother in the Army
currently in Iraq under stop-loss

JoAnn Sohl
Old Bridge, NJ
Son in the Army
currently serving extended
deployment in Iraq

Corey VanBuskirk
Scranton, PA
Husband in the Marines
serving 2nd deployment in Iraq

Jessie Kimes
Twentynine Palms, CA
Husband in the Marines
serving 2nd deployment in Iraq

Sarah Lamb
Newburg, MO
Husband in the Army
currently serving in Iraq

Debra K. Johnson
West Jordan, UT
Son in the Army
serving 2nd deployment in Iraq

John and Donna Evans
Clearwater, FL
Son is a flight medic
currently serving in Iraq

Jeni-Ann Kren
Clovis, CA
Son in the Army
currently serving in Iraq

Jan Kearney
Apple Valley, CA
Son in the Army
currently serving in Iraq

Norm and Cathy Peacock
Bloomington, IN
Son currently serving in Iraq
Daughter soon to deploy to Iraq

Nancy Arnosti
Chadds Ford, PA
Cousin in Army Reserves
Currently Serving in Iraq

Danielle Cannata
Washington, DC
Husband in Army Reserves
Currently serving in Iraq

Serena Daughtery
Kansas City, MO
Husband in Iraq on 2nd tour

Marie Hodges
Rock Springs, WY
3 Grandsons serving in Iraq

Karen Diedrich
Green Bay, WI
Son currently serving in Iraq

Rossana Cambron
Whittier, CA
Son in the Army
currently serving in Iraq

W. David Stephenson
Medfield, MA
Son in the Army
deployed this month for Iraq

Gloria L. Leigh
Dayton, OH
Grandson serving in Iraq

Dagmar Taylor
Kelkheim, Germany
Husband in the Army
serving 2nd tour in Iraq

Linda and Phil Waste
Hixson, TN
3 sons and 2 grandchildren
in military
Son currently serving in Iraq

Lynn Kerman
Ferndale, CA
2 nephews currently serving
in Iraq

Mike Byrne
Auburn, CA
Son-in-law serving 2nd tour
in Iraq

Noelle Stewart
Killeen, TX
Brother-in-law serving in Iraq
Husband scheduled to
deploy to Iraq for 2nd tour

Emily Miller
Golden, CO
Brother in Army National Guard
currently serving in Iraq

Jennifer Ellen Docimo
Audubon, NJ
Brother serving in Iraq since
March, 2006
recently extended 3 months

Kent and Vicki Robertson
Hillsborough, NC
Son serving 2nd deployment in
Iraq

Sherry Decelles
Charlotte, NC
Son currently serving in Iraq

Maggie Pondolfino
Portland, OR
Son in the Army
currently serving in Iraq

Susan G. Jones
Chillicothe, OH
Son in the Marines
currently serving in Iraq

Laurel E. Perry
Safety Harbor, FL
Son is a flight medic
currently serving in Iraq

Yolisma Hernandez
Elgin, IL
Brother serving
2nd deployment in Iraq

Barbara A. Young
Jackson, NH
Daughter in the National Guard
currently serving in Iraq

Sarah L. Lindsey
Ft. Leavenworth, KS
Husband serving
2nd deployment in Iraq

Virginia E. Delwiche
Grass Valley, CA
Son in the Army
currently serving in Iraq

Rhonda Earman
Richmond, VA
Son serving
2nd deployment in Iraq

Meghan Geshel
Flagstaff, AZ
Husband in the Army
currently serving in Iraq

Valarie Fletcher
Seymour, MO
Son currently serving in Iraq
on 2nd deployment

Jacqueline Satterfield
Philadelphia, NY
Husband on 2nd year-long
deployment to Iraq

Sherry L. Johnson
Merced, CA
Son in the Navy
currently serving in Iraq

Mrs. Trang Nguyen-Beardsley
Germantown, MD
Husband currently serving in
Iraq

Sarah Burgess
Bowie, MD
Fiancé currently serving in Iraq

Norm and Cathy Peacock
Bloomington, IN
Son currently serving in Iraq
Daughter soon to deploy to Iraq

Bryan, Katherine and
Cayden Boeskin
Loudonville, NY
Brother in the Army
Serving 15 month deployment
in Iraq

Eric and Sheila Welch
Forreston, IL
Son currently serving in Iraq

Tiffani Evans
Marietta, Ga
Brother serving 2nd deployment
in Iraq

Chrissy Kirchhoefer
St. Louis, MO
Brother currently serving in Iraq

Sharon Walker
Buffalo, NY
Son in the Army
serving extended deployment
in Iraq

Heike Braxton
Atlanta, GA
Son currently serving in Iraq

Sandra L. Garth
Saginaw, MI
Son in the Army
serving his 2nd deployment in
Iraq

D. R. Brown
Maryville IL
Son in the Army
currently serving in Iraq

Carel C. DeWinkel
Salem, OR
Son in the Army
currently serving in Iraq

Martha B. Garza
Brownsville, Texas
Husband currently on 3rd
deployment in Iraq

Christine and Michael Lyons
Schaumburg, IL
Son currently serving in Iraq

Beverley Wiskow
Inverness, FL
Son-in-law serving in Iraq

Catherine Kessler
Hinesville, GA
Husband in the Army
deployed to Iraq for 2nd time
in less than 3 years

Katlin Brown
Minneapolis, MN
Boyfriend in the National Guard
serving extended
deployment in Iraq

Annette Berhost
Sterling, CO
Son is a Marine
on his 3rd deployment to Iraq

Edith R Davis
Wheat Ridge, CO
Son in Army
currently serving in Iraq
Already given date
for his 3rd deployment

Amberle Wright
Anchorage, AK
Husband in the Army
currently serving in Iraq

Samantha Wienke
Manhattan KS
Husband is in the Army
serving 2nd deployment in Iraq

Terry Bennett
Auburn, WA
Son in Army
currently serving in Iraq

Haeley Derby
Salt Point, NY
Husband in National Guard
currently serving in Iraq

Lynn Marie Moore
St. Cloud, MN
Son in the National Guard
currently serving in Iraq

Marie Kay Hansen
Tracy, CA
Son in the Marines
currently serving in Iraq

Anne Chay
Andover, MA
19 year old son in Army
currently serving in Iraq

Mindy White
Leitchfield, KY
Husband in the National Guard
currently serving extended
deployment in Iraq

Elizabeth Wheat
Seattle, WA
Son in the Army
currently serving in Iraq

Stacy Hafley
Columbia, MO
Sister in National Guard
currently serving in Iraq

Becky Thomson
Sumner, Washington
Son currently serving in Iraq

Brynlyn Lehmann
Seattle, WA
Son in the Army
currently stationed in Iraq

Zohreh Whitaker
Gold River, CA
Son in the Army
currently stationed in Iraq

Suzanne Brownlow
Damascus, OR
Son in the Army
currently serving in Iraq

Paul and Mary Vogel
Altoona, KS
Son currently serving in Iraq
3 other sons previously served

Madelaine Miller Strauss
New York, NY
Nephew
serving 2nd deployment in Iraq

Akino Carroll
Junction City, KS
Husband in the Army
serving 2nd deployment in Iraq

Teresa Al-Saraji
Novi, MI
Husband in the Army
currently serving in Iraq

Ruby Dee Ashcraft
Anchorage, AK
Son-in-law currently serving
in Iraq

Judy Tanner
MA
Son-in-law deployed to Iraq

Kim Rosario
Brooklyn, NY
21 year old son
currently serving 2nd tour in Iraq

Kanchan
Boston,MA
Cousin currently serving in Iraq

Virginia
Milwaukee, WI
Nephew in the Marines
serving extended deployment
in Iraq
Son scheduled to return to Iraq
for a 2nd deployment

Liz Rivera Goldstein
Port Townsend, WA
Nephew currently serving
in Iraq

Michele Jackman
Two Harbors, MN
Son in the Army
serving extended 2nd tour in Iraq

Nancy Townsend
El Cerrito, CA
Son in the Air Force
serving 2nd deployment in Iraq

Jennifer Tullis
Evergreen, CO
Husband serving
2nd year-long deployment in Iraq

Joann Ekdahl
Hancock, MI
Son currently serving in Iraq

Amy Christman
Oceanside, CA
Husband in Marines
serving 2nd deployment to Iraq
Scheduled for 3rd deployment

J. Anton
Hayle, Cornwall, U.K.
20-year-old son is a Marine
currently stationed in Iraq

Will Nichols
Staten Island, NY
Son in the Army
currently serving on 2nd full-year
deployment in Iraq

Laura Adams Knudson
Denton, TX
19 year old son in Army
scheduled to deploy to Iraq

Sharon Diane Looper
Winston-Salem, NC
21 year old son in the Army
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
for 2nd time in April

Adriana Ercolano
Arlington, VA
Husband in the VA National
Guard
scheduled to deploy to Iraq

Lori Bannister
East Aurora, NY
18 year old son in the Marines
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
in August
19 year old nephew in the Army
scheduled to re-deploy to Iraq

Debra Rosenthal
Monterey, CA
Husband in the Army
scheduled to deploy to Iraq

James R. Crate
Rochester Hills, MI
Son in the Navy
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
for 3rd time in March

Pamela Osborne
Denver, CO
Son in the Marines
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
in next month
will have had only 1 month
of intensive training

Dave Howerton
Greensboro, NC
19 year old Son in the Army
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
in April

Sheryl G.
Salt Lake City, UT
Nephew in the Marines
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
for the 3rd time

David D. Fukuzawa
Troy, MI
Son in the Army
scheduled to deploy early to
Iraq without sufficient training

Kenneth & Toni Campbell
Denison, TX
22 year old son in the Army
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
for 2nd time

Jerry and Jackie Simmons
Lacey, WA
22 year old son in the Army
about to be deployed to Iraq

Elizabeth Reyes
Rome, NY
Son the Army
scheduled for 2nd deployment
to Iraq this summer

Kathy Hazelton
South Euclid, OH
Son the Marines
scheduled to deploy to Iraq in
March

Anna F. Armstrong
Atlanta, GA
Son the Marines
scheduled to deploy to Iraq

Maria McCadden
Port St. Lucie, FL
Son the Marines
scheduled to deploy to Iraq

in June or July
Clara Clark
La Porte, TX
Grandson in the Air Force
about to be deployed to Iraq
for 3rd time

Alan A. Huot
Granby, CT
Son in the Marines
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
in March

Mindy Ratcliff
Fort Stewart, GA
Husband in the Army
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
for 2nd time

John Rider
Swanzey, NH
Son in the Army
will deploy early to Iraq in April

Nancy Carre
Heron, MT
Children’s father in the Army
scheduled to deploy to Iraq

Mary L. Rasmussen
Warner Barracks
Bamberg, Germany
Husband in the Army
currently in training to deploy
to Iraq

Joan Margeson
Ann Arbor, MI
Son in the Navy
scheduled for 2nd deployment
to Iraq in April

Kay Handy
Odessa, TX
Grandson in the Army
scheduled to deploy to Iraq

Tom and Jan Merrick
Beaverton, OR
Son in the Army
scheduled to deploy to Iraq this
summer

Sharon Broderick
Takoma Park, MD
Son scheduled for 2nd
deployment to Iraq in August

Deborah Coller
Pinckney, MI
Son in Marines
preparing for 3rd deployment
to Iraq

Kathryn D. Struck
Dubuque, IA
Sons in National Guard and
Army
Son in the army
scheduled to deploy to Iraq for
2nd time

Susan Sutherland-Martin
Clackamas, OR
Son in Marines
scheduled to deploy to Iraq in
September

Ivan Goldman
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Son in Army
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
for 2nd time this spring

Melida A. Lowery
Long Beach, CA
Son in Navy
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
for 3rd time

Al Bernard
Marrerro, LA
Son served two times in Iraq,
scheduled to be deployed to
Iraq for 3rd time

Ellen Rogovin Hart
Elkins Park, PA
Nephew in Marines
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
this month

Linda Esposito
Cortland, NY
Son-in-law in Army
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
for 3rd time in Summer/Fall

Tammara Rosenleaf
Helena MT
Husband in Army
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
before year’s end

Janet C. Cantwell
Trevor, WI
Son in the Army
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
this summer

Clara Salloom
Drexel Hill, PA
Daughter and son-in-law in
Army
both scheduled to deploy to Iraq

Lionelle Hamanaka
New York, New York
Son in Army
about to deploy to Iraq

Sherrie Roper-Mother
Courtney Conner-Sister
Mark Anastasia-Father
Carl Roper-Step Father
Helen Craton-Grandmother
Fort Pierce, FL
Loved one scheduled to be
deployed to Iraq in July

Inger
Portland, OR
22 year old son in Marines
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
this year
Ben Sears
Philadelphia, PA
Son in Air Force
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
in April

Paul Alexander Toth
Grand Blanc, MI
Son in the Army
scheduled to re-deploy to Iraq
this summer

Mikal Hutto
Pasadena, Texas
Son returned from 1st
deployment in Iraq in November
about to deploy for 2nd tour

Elaine Brower
Staten Island, NY
Son in the Marines,
served 2 tours of duty in Iraq
will be redeployed in the
next few months

Jila Nealy
Fort Bragg,NC
Husband scheduled to deploy to
Iraq in the fall

Peter Mullins
Orange, CA
Cousin
scheduled for 3rd deployment

Lisa Gifford
Englewood, CO
Son in the Army
due to deploy for 2nd tour in
November
Daughter in the Marines
due to deploy to Iraq in October

Christine Hall
Falling Waters, WV
Son in the Army
scheduled for 3rd deployment
to Iraq

Steve & Karen W.
Salem, OR
Son in the Marines
training cut short to go to Iraq
in April

Tina Smarro
Cohoes, NY
Son deploying for 2nd tour in
Iraq in 3 weeks

Connie Moret
Minneapolis, MN
Son being redeployed to Iraq
in September

Dorothy Fannin
Westdale, NY
Son in the Marines
deploying to Iraq in one week

Jean Herrmann
Elgin, IL
Grandson preparing to redeploy
to Iraq

Donald King
Artesia, NM
Son in the Army
preparing for 2nd deployment
to Iraq

David Lambert
Fort Wayne IN
One grandson scheduled to
redeploy to Iraq soon
2nd grandson in training
will be deployed when
training is complete

Teresa Dawson
Gahanna, OH
Son in the National Guard
scheduled to redeploy to Iraq

Linda A. Shinn
McLean, VA
Son is currently scheduled for
2nd deployment
he was injured on his first tour

Dariana Donovan
Peoria, IL
Son scheduled to deploy 2nd
time to Iraq
Daughter-in-law
scheduled to deploy to Iraq

Cristina Chapman
Brooklyn, NY
Brother is a Marine
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
in August

Paula Rogovin
Teaneck, NJ
Son scheduled to be deployed
to Iraq before end of February

Katherine Tordonato
Oceanside, CA
Husband in the Marines
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
for 2nd time in two years

Maria Castillo
Bayside, NY
Brother scheduled to deploy to
Iraq

Sarah Tyler
Charlestown, MA
Son in the Army
preparing for his 2nd deployment
to Iraq

Edwin Lainhart
Yellow Springs, OH
Stepson being deployed to Iraq
in March

Maria L. Calabrese
Springfield, OH
Son in the Marines
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
in March

Rick Hanson
Minnetonka, MN
Son in the Marines
preparing for 2nd deployment
in March

Ainsley Broussard
Richmond Hill, GA
Son in the Marines
deploying to Iraq this month

Debbie Gray
Prunedale, CA
Son in the army
deploying for 2nd deployment to
Iraq for 1 year

James Lindsay
Mansfield, MA
Sister in the Air Force
scheduled to be deployed
for 3rd time to Iraq

Sepideh Tapp
San Antonio, TX
Husband in the Army
scheduled to be deployed to
Iraq in September for 2nd tour
he was injured on his 1st tour

Elynne and LLoyd Hering
Boulder, CO
One son in the Air Force
about to deploy to Iraq
another son served in Iraq
with the Marines

Meggan Gardner
St. Paul, MN
Brother scheduled to re-deploy
in March

Earl and Kathie Lois
Burlington, WI
Son in the Army
currently in training to go to Iraq

Lisa Seeb
Anchorage, AK
Son in the National Guard
currently serving in Kuwait
awaiting deployment to Iraq

Catherine Smith
Liberty, MO
Oldest son was
paralyzed in Iraq
Second son was due to be out
of the Army in September
scheduled to deploy to Iraq
in August

Elisabeth Langlais
Rotonda, FL
Daughter in Marines
scheduled for 3rd deployment
in March

Ted and Janice Pratt
Susanville, CA
Son about to deploy for 2nd time

Linda Gurley Chase
Kennebunk, ME
Son in Air Force
Deploying this summer to Iraq

Marge Haracz
Mundelein, IL
Son will deploy this summer

Kathy A. Kelly
Kansas City, MO
Son returned from 3rd
deployment to Iraq, scheduled
to re-deploy

Jamie Catlin
Edmond, OK
Husband in Army National
Guard scheduled to deploy

John H. Wooden
LaPorte, IN
Son in Marines
expected to deploy this summer

Patricia Richards
Antioch, CA
Son in the Marines
scheduled for 3rd deployment
to Iraq

Roberta Kassig
King George, VA
son in National Guard
Scheduled to deploy to Iraq

Claire Andre
Boston, MA
Husband in the Reserves
serving in Iraq since last
summer