Free Republic

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2005 – Their message was simple: "We support our troops," said rally organizer Kristinn Taylor. "We love them and we support their mission." "We know that what they are doing is just and noble," he added. "We remember what happened on Sept. 11. We know that it's because of the sacrifices that they are making day in and day out, night and day, that we have not had another terrorist attack on our soil." "Keep doing what you're doing," agreed Kevin Bush of Reston, Va. "We all love you; we all support you; and it's worth it."...

Diane Ibbotson came to the District amid yesterday's anti-war protest to support U.S. efforts in Iraq and say her enlisted son died for a worthy cause. "I know the loss. I know the grief," Mrs. Ibbotson said. Her son, Army Cpl. Forest Jostes, 21, was killed in Iraq alongside the son of Cindy Sheehan, the California woman whom the media has made a recognizable face of the anti-war movement. "But," Mrs. Ibbotson said, "a mother's grief, as deep as it goes, does not justify undermining the morale of the United States armed forces while we are at war." Mrs. Ibbotson...

<p>I am heading down to the Rally site now, to help with setting up - which began at 5am today. I didn't know if someone would post a live thread later. My apologies if I have stepped on any toes.</p>

As Congress this week honored parents whose sons or daughters have been killed in Iraq, some families said Cindy Sheehan and her anti-war group do not represent them and are disrespecting the fallen soldiers. "You can't call into question the integrity of the commander in chief without having it call into question the integrity of those under his command," said Diane Ibbotson, whose son Army Cpl. Forest Jostes, 21, died in April 2004 outside Baghdad. "Let's talk about the things they've accomplished," she said, listing the end of Saddam Hussein's dictatorship, Iraq's first free elections, and the building of schools...

WASHINGTON - President Bush paid tribute to the nation's Gold Star mothers on Wednesday, honoring the deaths of their sons and daughters in the military as activists began gathering for an Iraq anti-war protest on Saturday. Bush proclaimed Sunday as Gold Star Mother's Day and instructed that the U.S. flag be flown over government buildings. He also urged Americans to display the flag as well. "On Gold Star Mother's Day, we recognize and pray for the devoted and patriotic mothers of these men and women in uniform who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our liberty," the president...

Report from the Cheyenne, Wyoming rally this morning during the bus tour stop at the state Capitol. === I started my drive from Boulder to Cheyenne at 5:00am arriving at about 6:30am. === Capitol building at dawn upon arriving in townThe only person who had arrived before me was Don Edmonds, the father of a fallen Army Ranger. === Proud father Don Edmunds holding a picture of his son and American hero, fallen Army Ranger Jonn Edmunds, in action 10/19/01, Afghanistan.While talking to Mr. Edmunds I discovered that he had arrived much earlier than I to raise the flag of...

Asking for Help

Help for the famillies.

PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. - A Jamaica-born woman whose U.S. Marine son died fighting in Iraq has finally been welcomed into the American Gold Star Mothers, which had banned non-citizens for the first 77 years of its existence. Within an hour she was enthralling fellow members with a moving description of her son's devotion to America, "which he chose to be his country."Carmen Palmer, of Mount Vernon, learned that her application had been accepted when she arrived Wednesday night for the screening of a film dedicated to women who have lost children in combat.Judith Young, president of the Washington-based American Gold Star...

A Gold Star mom who lost her son in Iraq said Sunday that there was enough evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction to justify going to war against Saddam Hussein. "I have no concern about there being weapons of mass destruction of some regard there, that were going to be used against Americans," Rhonda Winfield told "Fox News Sunday." Mrs. Winfield was responding to fellow Gold Star mother Barbara Porchia, who insisted during the same segment that there were no WMDs in Iraq. "I have seen photos of entire fighter jets buried in the sand", Mrs. Winfield countered....

Though they don’t receive nearly the amount of coverage that Cindy Sheehan has enjoyed, America needs to recognize the sentiments of its Blue-Star and Gold Star Mothers. Blue-Star Mothers are those who have grown sons and daughters serving in the armed forces, and Gold-Star Mothers are those who had sons and daughters who have died while serving their county in the armed forces. The other day a Blue Star Mother took up the cause to speak out against the lies and distortions of Cindy Sheehan. Deborah Johns represents the patriotic Blue Star Mothers. Blue Star Mothers along with Gold Star...

Judith Young knew the new job would be difficult, that she would face challenges as president of the American Gold Star Mothers, a national nonprofit organization of women who lost sons and daughters in war. But the Moorestown resident had no idea how tough she'd have it. Part of the difficulty is linked to one mother's antiwar protest outside President Bush's ranch in Texas. Yet even before Young took office in June at the group's convention near Dallas, she found the Gold Star Mothers, a group that eschews politics, embroiled in controversy. First came the phoned and e-mailed threats and...

Beginnings When the United States entered World War I in 1917, George Vaughn Seibold, 23, volunteered, requesting assignment in aviation. He was sent to Canada where he learned to fly British planes since the United States had neither an air force nor planes. Deployed to England, he was assigned to the British Royal Flying Corps, 148th Aero Squadron. With his squadron, he left for combat duty in France. He corresponded with his family regularly. His mother, Grace Darling Seibold, began to do community service by visiting returning servicemen in the hospitals. The mail from George stopped. Since all aviators...

DALLAS, Texas (AP) -- A group for mothers whose children died in war voted Monday to allow non-U.S. citizens to join, after coming under criticism for denying membership to a Filipina mother whose son was killed in Afghanistan. The 1929 charter of American Gold Star Mothers had prevented foreign citizens from joining. Earlier this year, the organization's 12-member executive board voted against changing the rule. That prevented Ligaya Lagman, of Yonkers, New York, from joining, although she is a legal resident and her son, 27-year-old son Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Lagman, was a U.S. citizen. After hearing about her interest...

YONKERS, N.Y. - A Yonkers woman has dropped her bid to become a Gold Star Mother. Ligaya Lagman was denied acceptance by the organization of mothers who have lost sons and daughter in combat because she is not a U.S. citizen. Bob Foster of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Eastchester tells the Journal News that Lagman is shaken up by all the attention she has gotten and she wants to stay on the sidelines. But she wants to see the rules changed so other mothers are not turned down like she was. Lagman came to the United States from...

(you have to follow the link - the article can't be posted) http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050526/NEWS02/505260324

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Everyone agrees that Ligaya Lagman (search) is a Gold Star mother, part of the long line of mournful women whose sons or daughters gave their lives for their country. Her 27-year-old son, Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Lagman (search), was killed last year in Afghanistan, but American Gold Star Mothers Inc., has rejected Lagman, a Filipino, for membership because — though a permanent resident and a taxpayer — she is not a U.S. citizen. http://www.goldstarmoms.com/

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Everyone agrees that Ligaya Lagman is a Gold Star mother, part of the long, mournful line of women whose sons or daughters were killed in combat for the U.S. armed services. Her 27-year-old son, Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Lagman, was killed last year in Afghanistan when his unit came under fire during a mission to drive out remnants of Taliban and al-Qaida forces. "There's nothing we can do because that's what our organization says: You have to be an American citizen," national President Ann Herd said Thursday. "We can't go changing the rules every time the...

<p>Michael and Jane Curtin, at home in Howell, N.J., with a photo of their hero son, Cpl. Michael Curtin, wrote a letter to the troops in Iraq.</p> <p>December 25, 2003 -- Proudly displayed alongside the holly boughs and evergreen wreaths in the home of Joan and Michael Curtin is a gold-star flag - a sign that a soldier who died in combat lived there.</p>

GOLD STAR MOTHERS Started with a group of twenty-five In the year of twenty-eight By those who'd lost a Son or Daughter From the wartime's cruel fate. When the Blue Star on the Service Flag Was replaced with one of Gold Everybody knew a Mother grieved With a loss from that household. "Out of tragedy, we were formed" And, "Out of love we continue." This legacy of Gold Star Mothers With the heartache, that they knew. They use the memories and love Of those who gave their all To help those other Veterans Who answered our Nation's call. It's so...