> Cindy Sheehan to protest at State of the Union January 31
2 February 2006, 06:52
Fact about her son:
Near the end of his tour of duty, the US invasion of Iraq began. Sheehan re-enlisted, knowing that his unit would be sent to Iraq.
Sheehan’s sister in law:
"We do not agree with the political motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan. She now appears to be promoting her own personal agenda and notoriety at the expense of her son’s good name and reputation. The rest of the Sheehan Family supports the troops, our country, and our President, silently, with prayer and respect."
What other soldiers’ parents have to say:
Linda Ryan, mother of Corporal Marc T. Ryan, a Marine who was killed in Ramadi, says of Sheehan:
"She’s going about this not realizing how many people she’s hurting. When she refers to anyone killed in Iraq, she’s referring to my son. She doesn’t have anything to say about what happened to my son." [221]
On August 15, 2005, Matt and Toni Matula, parents of Matthew Matula, a Texas Marine killed in Iraq, requested that the white cross representing their dead son as a victim of the war in Iraq be removed, stating that they did not wish their son’s name to be part of an anti-war demonstration. Mr. Matula said:
"It’s fine for people to grieve their own way. It aggravates me to see them using other people’s names to further their cause."[222]
Natalie Healy, mother of Dan Healy, a Navy SEAL who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq, organized a rally on August 20, 2005 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in order to counteract Sheehan’s message, stating:
"We just want to let the fellas know that we’re supporting them and that we’re not going to wimp out on them." [223]
Gary Qualls, whose son, Marine Corporal Louis Wayne Qualls, died in Iraq, started what was dubbed "Fort Qualls" in Crawford, Texas to counter the "Camp Casey" protests. Qualls has repeatedly removed the white cross bearing his son’s name from the Arlington West display set up by "Camp Casey." [224]
Gregg Garvey, whose 23 year old son died in Iraq, joined the pro-Bush counter protests stating "people have had enough Bush bashing", and that Sheehan "does not represent all of America". [225]
Fact about her son:
Near the end of his tour of duty, the US invasion of Iraq began. Sheehan re-enlisted, knowing that his unit would be sent to Iraq.
Sheehan’s sister in law:
"We do not agree with the political motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan. She now appears to be promoting her own personal agenda and notoriety at the expense of her son’s good name and reputation. The rest of the Sheehan Family supports the troops, our country, and our President, silently, with prayer and respect."
What other soldiers’ parents have to say:
Linda Ryan, mother of Corporal Marc T. Ryan, a Marine who was killed in Ramadi, says of Sheehan:
"She’s going about this not realizing how many people she’s hurting. When she refers to anyone killed in Iraq, she’s referring to my son. She doesn’t have anything to say about what happened to my son." [221]
On August 15, 2005, Matt and Toni Matula, parents of Matthew Matula, a Texas Marine killed in Iraq, requested that the white cross representing their dead son as a victim of the war in Iraq be removed, stating that they did not wish their son’s name to be part of an anti-war demonstration. Mr. Matula said:
"It’s fine for people to grieve their own way. It aggravates me to see them using other people’s names to further their cause."[222]
Natalie Healy, mother of Dan Healy, a Navy SEAL who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq, organized a rally on August 20, 2005 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in order to counteract Sheehan’s message, stating:
"We just want to let the fellas know that we’re supporting them and that we’re not going to wimp out on them." [223]
Gary Qualls, whose son, Marine Corporal Louis Wayne Qualls, died in Iraq, started what was dubbed "Fort Qualls" in Crawford, Texas to counter the "Camp Casey" protests. Qualls has repeatedly removed the white cross bearing his son’s name from the Arlington West display set up by "Camp Casey." [224]
Gregg Garvey, whose 23 year old son died in Iraq, joined the pro-Bush counter protests stating "people have had enough Bush bashing", and that Sheehan "does not represent all of America". [225]