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BuzzFlash: Grieving Military Mother Sends a Message Through a TV Ad

August 12, 2005

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With Bush's Refusal to Meet Families, Grieving Military Mother Sends a Message Through a TV Ad

:60 Spot Features Cindy Sheehan Directly Addressing Bush With Numerous Questions on the Iraq War: "Mr. President, I want to tell you face-to-face how much this hurts..."

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT

News from Gold Star Families for Peace:

Crawford, TX— Cindy Sheehan, the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq, and Gold Star Families for Peace released a new TV ad this morning asking the President, " . . .how many more of our loved ones need to die in this senseless war?"

The ad, paid for by Gold Star Families, will air on Crawford cable channels near Bush's ranch. The total ad buy is currently $15,000.

There are plans to air the ad throughout August and wherever Bush visits during his vacation.

Sheehan, who is still camping outside of Bush's Crawford ranch in honor of her late son, Private Casey Sheehan, says that the airwaves seemed to be the only alternative. "This ad is intended to act as a message to President Bush," Sheehan said. "All I wanted was an hour out of his extended vacation time, but he's refused to meet with me and the other military families. We just want honest answers."

The ad comes one day after a press conference with Sheehan and 13 other military family members from across the country, including seven mothers whose sons were killed in Iraq. The ad also follows Bush's traditional casual meeting with the two principal architects of the war, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condolezza Rice, also arrived in Crawford yesterday.

Celeste Zappala of Pennsylvania, who lost her son Sgt. Sherwood Baker in Iraq, has joined Sheehan in Crawford. "When we buried my son, I vowed to him I would tell the truth, this war is a betrayal of our military and of the democracy they seek to protect. I am here to uphold the honor and memory of my son, Sgt. Sherwood Baker and insist that we find accountability for this conflict and bring the troops home now."

"I want answers, just like any mother whose lost her child for a reason that can't be explained," said Jean Prewitt of Birmingham, AL, who lost her son, Private Kelly Prewitt, in the first weeks of the war. "I fully support Cindy and other families who want the truth from our President."

Gold Star Families for Peace is a coalition of military families whose loved ones have died in war. The families plan to stay in Crawford until the President meets with them or his five weeks of vacation are over. For further information, go to http.//www.gsfp.org/.

Gold Star Families for Peace

AD TRANSCRIPT:

:60

Cindy Sheehan speaking to President Bush:

Mr. President, My name is Cindy Sheehan. On April 24, 2004 my son was killed in Iraq.

He was only 24 and he died in his best friend's arms. Casey was so

good and so honest. Why can't you be honest with us?

You were wrong about the weapons of mass destruction-you were wrong about the link between Iraq and Al Queda—you lied to us and because of your lies my son died.

Mr. President I want to tell you face to face how much this hurts. I love my country, but how many more of our loved ones need to die in this senseless war? How many more soldiers have to die before we say enough?

I know you can't bring Casey back, but it's time to admit mistakes and bring our troops home now.

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT

posted by Annamarie at 10:01 PM