Dear Military Families,


On Friday evening, July 15 the National Governors' Association Conference will begin in Des Moines, Iowa. The American Friends Service Committee, in conjunction with Military Families Speak Out, are hosting a special version of AFSC's Eyes Wide Open exhibit of the boots of fallen soldiers in Des Moines prior to the opening of the Conference -- it will be the boots of fallen National Guard soldiers. We are seeking to highlight the local costs of the war in Iraq to National Guard soldiers, their families, their communities and their states and to call on Governors to take a stand against the use of the National Guard in Iraq, as part of our overall efforts to bring all the troops home now.

We need your help in getting the Governors to take notice of this event and join us in reading the names of the fallen National Guard soldiers from their state.

Below you will find two items:

(1) The invitation that went to State Governors, inviting them to come to the exhibit at 5 p.m. and read the names of the fallen National Guard members from their states; and

(2) A draft script that you could use in calling your Governor's office and encouraging him/her to participate in this event.

As we understand it, the "official" pre-conference event that the Governors are invited to at the time we will be holding this memorial service is....batting practice. Attending the memorial service will be representatives from American Friends Service Committee and local peace groups, as well as the following people from MFSO, Iraq Veterans Against the War and Gold Star Families for Peace:

• Celeste Zappala, Philadelphia, PA, whose son Sgt. Sherwood Baker was killed in Baghdad on April 26, 2004. He was the first Pennsylvania National Guard soldier to be killed in combat since World War II. Celeste Zappala is a co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace.
• Pierrette Wolfe, Clinton, IA, whose son is a captain in the Iowa National Guard who may deploy to Iraq in the future.
•
Kathryn Struck, Dubuque, IA, who has a son serving in the Iowa National Guard who recently returned from Afghanistan; and another son who is currently in basic training.
• Anne Sapp and her two daughters Lydia (age 17) and Mary (age 8), Billerica, MA. Anne's husband serves with the 272nd Chemical Company in the Massachusetts National Guard, stationed at Camp Summerall, located halfway between Tikrit and Mosul, Iraq.
• Kelly Dougherty, Colorado Springs, CO, served with Military Police in Colorado National Guard Unit in Iraq in 2003-2004; co-founder, Iraq Veterans Against the War
• Stacy Bannerman, Kent, WA, whose husband in the Washington National Guard recently returned from an extended tour of duty in Iraq
• Nancy Lessin and Charley Richardson, Boston, MA, whose son in the Marines served in Iraq in spring, 2003. They are co-founders of Military Families Speak Out, an organization of over 2,200 military families, including hundreds of National Guard families, who are speaking out against the war in Iraq.


We encourage you to call your Governor's office as soon as possible and encourage their attendance at this event.
In Peace and Solidarity.
Nancy Lessin and Charley Richardson
for Military Families Speak Out
www.mfso.org
www.bringthemhomenow.org

1. Invitation Sent By American Friends Service Committee to Governors:.

Dear Governor:

A memorial service for National Guard members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan will be held in downtown Des Moines, Iowa as the National Governors Association is welcomed to our city. A combat boot memorial representing the 232 Guard men and women who have died in the wars will be on display throughout the weekend in a popular public square.

Please accept this invitation to participate in the service by reading the names of the fallen Guard members from your state, and laying a flower at the boots bearing their names.

The memorial service will be held at 5:00 pm on Friday, July 15, at Nollen Plaza at Second and Locust in Des Moines.

This invitation is extended on behalf of Military Families Speak Out and the American Friends Service Committee.

Please RSVP to this email address.

For additional information please contact:

Kathleen McQuillen (515) 274-4851, extension 22

Jeffrey J. Weiss (515) 274-4851, extension 16

2. Draft Script for Calling Your Governor's Office

[PLEASE NOTE --THERE ARE 5 STATES TO DATE THAT HAVE SUFFERED NO DEATHS OF NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS IN IRAQ -- THEY ARE: New Mexico, Alaska, Delaware, Maryland and Utah. As we understand it, the Governors in these states were invited to attend, but not to read names, as there are (thankfully) none to read at this time.]

Hello, my name is ___________________ and I’m a member of Military Families Speak Out [here you can add any personal specifics you would like]. I’m calling to follow-up on an invitation the Governor received to a memorial service for National Guard soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. We would like the Governor to participate in the service by reading the names of the fallen Guard members from (your state) and laying a flower at the boots bearing their names.

As a military family, I believe it is very important for our elected officials to publicly recognize the sacrifice that military personnel and their families have made, and the toll that has been taken by the war in Iraq. (here again, feel free to add your personal comments.)

The memorial service will be held at 5:00 pm on Friday, July 15, at Nollen Plaza at Third and Locust in Des Moines.

Will the governor be able to attend?

If yes: Please thank him/her on my/our behalf.

If no: Ask for the reason why the Governor will not be able to attend.

[Finally, please email us as soon as possible with the response you received from your Governor's office -- and let us know which state you are from. THANK YOU!]