Posted on 08/16/2005 12:57:52 PM PDT by areafiftyone
New York, August 16, 2005 – The General Secretary of the National Council of Churches is urging President Bush to join with Gold Star families and religious leaders in an interfaith prayer service outside the Bush ranch at noon (CDT) Friday,
The prayer service has been called by Gold Star mother Cindy Sheehan “as an opportunity for Americans and others across the world to pray for our soldiers in Iraq, their families and in particular the mothers of our fallen.”
Sheehan, along with United Methodist laywoman Celeste Zappala and other Gold Star mothers, has been waiting outside the Bush compound to meet with the President since his five-week vacation began.
“I urge the President and the First Lady to join this brief and simple service,” said the Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, NCC General Secretary. Edgar visited the Gold Star mothers and their families outside the presidential ranch and conducted a worship service on August 12. The visit was at the invitation of his fellow United Methodist, Celeste Zappala, whose son Sherwood was killed in Iraq.
“This war, like any war, has generated terrible losses, immense pain and sharp divisions in our country,” Edgar said. “Each day we see the pain in the faces of the Gold Star mothers and their families. It’s evident that President Bush, who has faced agonizing decisions in this war, feels the pain as well.”
“Whether or not we agree with Mr. Bush’s decisions,” Edgar said, “and whether or not he agrees with us, we can agree that we’re all feeling a heavy burden of grief. Let’s suspend the rhetoric for a few minutes on Friday and join together – commander-in-chief and families of the fallen – to seek strength from the God who sustains us all.”
In an open letter to religious leaders August 15, Sheehan urged those who cannot attend to host a prayer vigil in their cities. “We ask you to join us in a simultaneous moment of silent prayer to honor all who have been affected by this war.”
The service will take place at “Camp Casey,” an impromptu encampment outside the Bush compound named for Sheehan’s son, Casey Sheehan, who was killed in Baghdad on April 4, 2004. Camp Casey, which displays white crosses named for those who have been killed in Iraq, has become a gathering place for Gold Star families and their supporters.
The full text of the Sheehan August 15 letter to religious letters follows:
Dear Religious Leader:
Family members of fallen soldiers, who have joined me in Crawford, and I invite you to attend a moment of silent prayer at 12:00 noon (Central Daylight Time) this Friday, August 19th at Camp Casey just outside the Presidents’ Ranch. We’re holding this moment of prayer as an opportunity for Americans and others across the world to pray for our soldiers in Iraq, their families and in particular the mothers of our fallen. We have also invited President Bush and the first lady to join us in praying for the troops.
Several family members of fallen soldiers have joined with me in Crawford and will take part in the moment of silent prayer. Outside the President’s ranch we have set up a temporary camp named “Camp Casey” and a memorial of crosses with names of fallen soldiers has been erected, which is where the prayer service will take place.
If you cannot attend our service in Crawford, Texas please consider hosting a prayer vigil in your city. We ask you to join us in a simultaneous moment of silent prayer to honor all who have been affected by this war. You are welcome to contact your local media and inform them of your vigil.
My son, Casey Sheehan, 24, of Vacaville, Calif., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on April 4, 2004, when his unit was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. When President Bush began his 5 week vacation, I decided to camp outside his ranch in hopes of meeting with him to ask some unanswered questions about the war and the needless loss of lives of so many. Thus far the President has refused to meet, but my resolve is strong and I will remain in Crawford until the meeting takes place or his vacation ends.
Thank you in advance for your consideration and support of this interfaith prayer service.
Respectfully,
Cindy Sheehan
Mother of Casey Sheehan
Picture courtesy of Lone Star Iconoclast.
If you plan to go to Crawford, travel logistics provided by the Sheehan support team can be found here
Contact: NCC News, Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2252,
SHE ALREADY MET WITH HIM?
This is a TRAP.
My mind is still spinning, thinking about the boobs in the super market.
So much for not squeezing the Charmin! Woof!
A picture has been put out of W with the family and him kissing her on the cheek. It's very nice, very friendly. Warm. She's full of S.
W is a puppet. Anyone who hasn't been befuddled by his staged television appearances can see it. Just watch what comes out of the White House, as opposed to what his image tells you will come out
Thank you for proving the point about your complete lack of objectivity or even rationality. I cannot decide which is more amusing, your arrogance or your ignorance.
Again, people, read what I write and not what you want to read.
I never said he needs to meet with her. His handlers have to show the television audience what she is: a sad, confused woman who's being used.
Here's an idea, genius-- why don't you find a thread you LIKE?
Absolutely.
He's a little paranoid today, though:
While I know it's required procedure on FR to blame everything on "liberals/MSM/Clinton/unions/whatever,"
//ooo...Warchild listens to NPR! Ghastly heresy.
Having grown up in the heartland of the Klan, I learned a long time ago that the best way to handle bigots is to ignore them.
In light of the comments about Cindy Sheehan, that last one sticks out a bit. Ignore racists but give Cindy Sheehand, a woman with behavioral problems, the spotlight after he's already met with her? I don't think so. But he's a professor and knows it all (he doesn't demonstrate this, but he SAYS so), so there ya go. Peace all, gotta run.
Cindy calls it the "so-called election."
I kinda wish we'd gone to war for oil.
I learn more when I listen. When I yak, I learn nothing.
And believe me, people know where I stand. I just don't have to posture and pout to make my point.
glad you brought that up. Some people make up things out of thin air.
Strange you brought that up. I am surprised that no Hollywierd people have gone there yet. The only one who has gone there is Viggo Mortensen of LORD OF THE RINGS who plays Aragorn.
You have an answer for everything except for direct questions.
Later, peace, etc.
No kidding?
Then it won't be that hard for you to find links to articles where he met with Juanita Brodderick and Paula Jones, will it?
We can all wait while you find them.
She's doing a good job of showing that herself.
YOur talking points need work. Obviously I do not worship at the altar of FDR.
Exactly he should have let the conservative pundits point out how he met with her before and left it at that. Now this chick has been on TV more times than the guy in those erectile dysfunction commercials. What's next a reality series?
W comes across as a dullard on television, even in the most staged appearances. The Witch Queen comes across as a dynamic, aggressive, far-sighted leader.
Reality is irrelevant. Television rules all.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.