FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Morrigan Phillips 202-258-1822
Virgina Rodino 443-996-5915

Bring Them Home Now Tour Stops in Baltimore, MD

Gold Star and Military Families, Iraq War and other Vets Travel Country,To Converge at Anti-War Rally in DC on September 24

BALTIMORE, MD – On September 20, the Bring Them Home Now Tour will stop in Baltimore, Maryland carrying a delegation of military and Gold Star families, veterans of the Iraq war and veterans of previous wars who will speak from first hand experience about the devastating effects of the war. The tour’s northern and central bus routes will meet here and travel together to Washington, DC on Sept 21.

WHAT: Speaking program with members of the North and Central Bring Them Home Now Tours
WHERE: Shriver Auditorium, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles St.
WHEN: 8:00-10:00 PM

The Bring Them Home Now tour delegation will include – among others – the following speakers:

Carlos Arredondo of Roslindale, MA, learned his son Lcpl. Alexander Arredondo, USMC was killed in action on August 25, 2004 in An Najaf, Iraq. When advised of his son's death, Carlos, due to anguish and grief, burned a USMC van and himself in the process. These images were broadcast worldwide and resonated for many as the ultimate anguish of a father having lost his son in war.

Cindy Sheehan of Vacaville, CA, whose son Spc. Casey Sheehan, age 24, was killed in action in Sadr City, Iraq on April 4. 2004. Cindy is co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace.

Stacy Bannerman of Kent, WA, whose husband served an extended tour of duty with the Washington National Guard at Camp Anaconda, the most attacked base in Iraq. He was forced to serve in Iraq eight months past his 20-year commitment, which ended in June 2004.

Hart Viges of Austin, TX, Hart is a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division as an infantryman and was deployed to Iraq from February 2003 to January 2004. After returning home, Hart applied for and was awarded Conscientious Objector status.

“Over the course of the tour, members of the sponsoring organizations have reached out to military families, veterans, and concerned citizens in cities and towns in the heartland, the north, and the south spreading the truth about the war in Iraq, mobilizing people to Washington, D.C. for September 24-26 and asking Congressional decision-makers the hard questions Cindy Sheehan has asked President Bush and to learn what our elected representatives are doing to bring this war to an end.” said Hart Viges of Iraq Veterans Against the War.

The three bus tour launched from Camp Casey outside George Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas, where Cindy Sheehan, other Gold Star and military families, Iraq War and other veterans held a nearly month long vigil requesting a meeting with the President. The tour will travel different routes across the country, converging in Washington, DC on September 21, to join the mass mobilization against the Iraq War that will occur September 24-26.

The Bring Them Home Now Tour is sponsored by Gold Star Families for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, and Veterans For Peace. For further information on the tour including a schedule of cities and dates, go to: www.bringthemhomenowtour.org
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