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A Weekend of ProtestsBy Larry Syverson of Military Families Speak Out  Over the weekend of March 13, 14 and 15, many Military Families Speak Out members participated in protests in Dover, DE and Washington, D.C. The weekend began Saturday evening with a get-together of members. There were about 25 of us that met for the evening. I must tell you about two families that I met. Both lost a son in Iraq. Both sons were only 24 years old (the age my youngest son Bryce went to Iraq). One son was killed in July and one in February. One family was from California and one from New Jersey.
Unfortunately, they had the same story. Both wanted to meet the body of their son as he arrived at Dover AFB. The government denied both families! All they wanted to do was privately welcome their son's body home. So, not only is the press refused access to Dover, but grieving families are also denied access. Their stories made the Sunday march and rally in Dover, DE that much more important. The event was scheduled to protest the administration's refusal to allow the press to film the arrival at Dover AFB of the bodies of our fallen soldiers. Because of their experiences, we marchers were also demanding the right of families to welcome their fallen loved ones home. About 600 of us marched 3.5 miles from a friends' meeting house to Dover AFB. Four families spoke at the Dover rally about their sons that had been killed in Iraq. Most have now come to the conclusion that their sons have died in vain because of the lies. It has been VERY HARD on these families. Monday morning, March 15th, we rallied in front of Walter Reed Hospital in northwest Washington, D.C. Many soldiers wounded in Iraq are at this hospital. A mother spoke of her son's injuries and how he was being sent back to Iraq. It appears the administration is more concerned with the number of soldiers in Iraq than in the well-being of the soldiers being sent. After the rally, we marched six miles to the White House. The whole time I was marching, I was thinking about those families that had been denied access to Dover AFB. I tried to put myself in their shoes and imagine how I would feel if one of my sons that had served in Iraq had been killed. How would I have reacted to the denial of welcoming them home?  A short rally was held in Lafayette Park followed by an attempt to deliver a coffin containing the names of the soldiers killed in Iraq to the White House. We wanted the administration to take responsibility for their deaths. When the administration refused to accept the coffin, a group of about 15 performed an act of civil disobedience by sitting down and blocking the entrance to the White House. Because of the stories I heard on Saturday, I joined those sitting. I sat in honor of those families that had been denied access, and I sat for future families' rights.
We sat there for about 1.5 hrs singing. Each of us told why we were there. Most said they were there to get the administration to account for the soldiers that had died. I told them I was there for my son Bryce who was in Baghdad and for my son Branden who had just returned from Tikrit. I also told those gathered of the two families denied access to Dover. I told them that these soldiers and their families deserve better. I told the administration that they must change their policies. I was mentally prepared to be arrested. I don't think the administration, however, wanted the embarrassment of arresting the father of two soldiers and a sailor. The Secret Service told us that they would not arrest us. They said we could sit there as long as we wanted, blocking the entrance. When it appeared the stand-off (or more correctly sit-off) was going no where, the leaders (a group of peace activists from PA) lead the group, about 150 people (most had been standing behind us for moral support) back to Lafayette Park to continue the vigil. I came away from the experience energized. The crazy thing. March 15th was my first anniversary of protesting! I participated in my first protest at a big "March on the White House" on March 15, 2003. Who knew that one year later I would be in the same spot. Only this time instead of marching I was sitting. During that first protest, I marched for my sons. One year later, I sat for all our sons and daughters in Iraq and their families. Page 4--> |
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