Posted on 11/04/2006 3:53:57 PM PST by AVNevis
LOS ANGELES, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Seven parents of U.S. servicemen killed in Iraq arrived in northern Iraq on Saturday on what organizers called an unprecedented visit to see what their children died for.
With public support for the war slumping in the United States, the five men and two women flew into Irbil for a seven-day visit during which they hoped to meet U.S. troops, Iraqis and government leaders, Move America Forward said.
"No other such coordinated trip to Iraq by families of fallen troops has ever taken place," said the California-based group, a grass-roots, pro-troop organization founded in 2004.
"The American people are shown a skewed picture of the situation in Iraq day after day by the international news media. We felt it was time to allow the families of U.S. troops who died in Iraq to see the progress being made in Iraq," said Melanie Morgan, a conservative talk radio host and chairman of Move America Forward.
There are currently no U.S. troops based in Irbil, which is in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq and one of the safer parts of the country.
Some of the parents said they hoped for closure after the deaths of their sons. Others said in statements made before they left the United States that they wanted to carry messages of support to U.S. troops.
"I want to see for myself what America has been able to accomplish to help the Iraqis help themselves," said John Holley, of San Diego, whose son, Matthew, 21, was killed by a roadside bomb in November 2005.
Holley said he also wanted to "experience the same feelings that my son experienced ... sort of like walking in his shoes."
Move America Forward said the trip had been planned for a year and was financed entirely by contributions from members and supporters.
Spokesman John Ubaldi said Irbil was relatively stable and that most of the violence in Iraq was taking place in four or five of the nation's 18 provinces.
"There are good things happening (in Iraq) but you never hear about them," Ubaldi told Reuters. "These families want to see what their sons went through and the progress they know is being made."
Wow-
Mainstream coverage PING!
Bump!
Kristinn, freeping Iraq because it's there.
PING to you too! Sorry I forgot.
bttt
Waaaay cool!
God bless these families who have lost sons and daughters, they did not die in vain!
God bless the United States military!
BTTT
Well, what do you know? Even Reuters couldn't ignore this trip! Although they put some of their patented Reuters spin on it, the mere fact they're covering it at all shows it has made a SUBSTANTIAL impact. Just plain splendid!
I answered the phone today and someone asked to speak with my son Gregory. I said that he wasn't here , he was serving in Iraq. The woman in her most compassionate voice said " Oh I am so sorry" I said you don't have to be sorry for him. He was glad to do it.
: )
I am very thankful!
Woohoo!!! Reuters picks up the Gold Star Families Iraq trip.
Mainstream media plug for secret Iraq trip by Gold Star Families.
Bumparoo!!
How heartbreaking for those parents! You've got to give them credit for even going there.
God Bless these Great Americans! Thank you so very much for your sacrifices, and your spirit!
God bless the United States military!
Amen
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