Three-Bus ’Bring Them Home Now Tour’ to Converge in D.C.; Will Arrive at US Capitol for Press Conference, Other Events Sept. 21

News Advisory:

--Cindy Sheehan to ride in on North Bus, Gold Star and Military Families, Iraq War and other Vets Complete tour of 51 Cities in 28 States, will Join Thousands on Sept. 24

On September 21st, the “Bring Them Home Now Tour” will arrive in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Capitol for a press conference at noon. The three-bus tour is carrying Cindy Sheehan and other Gold Star families, who lost loved ones in Iraq; military families, with loved ones serving in Iraq; and Veterans of the Iraq war and previous wars. The tour launched from Crawford, Texas on August 31st -- the last day of the nearly month-long vigil started by Cindy Sheehan.

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 21

-- Noon: Bring Them Home Now Tour Arrival & Press Conference at the U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C.

-- 1:30 PM: Visit to the White House by delegation of military families and veterans who will deliver a letter to the White House asking three questions of President Bush

-- 2:30 PM: Construction of “Camp Casey DC” memorial to the more than 1,800 soldiers killed in Iraq

WHERE:

Tour Arrival and Press Conference -- West lawn of the U.S. Capitol between 3rd Street and the Capitol Steps, Washington D.C.

Delivery of Letter -- White House, Lafayette Park, North West Gate

“Camp Casey DC” -- National Mall, between 14th and 15th streets, near Constitution Avenue

WHO: Military Families and Veterans will give presentations and are available for interview (See list of speakers below)

Throughout September the “Bring Them Home Now” tour has been traveling the country on three different routes across the north, south and central U.S. making stops in 51 cities in 28 states on route to Washington, D.C. where the tour delegations will carry their message to elected representatives to “Bring the troops home now, take care of them when they return, and to never again send our loved ones to war based on lies.” On September 24th-26th the tour delegations will join tens of thousands in the “United for Peace and Justice” mass mobilization against the Iraq war. Upon arrival to the nation’s capital members of the tour will give a press conference in front of the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

The following speakers will give presentations at the Press Conference and are Available for Interview:

Anne Roesler of Saratoga, CA whose son is in the 82nd Airborne Division, based at Ft. Bragg, he left on August 31, 2005 for his third deployment to Iraq. Anne will moderate the press conference.

Elliott Adams of Sharon Springs, NY enlisted in the Army during the Vietnam War. He served in Vietnam, Korea, and Japan as an infantry paratrooper. He is a member of Veterans for Peace.

Beatriz Saldivar of Fort Worth, TX whose nephew Daniel Torres was killed in action on February 4th, 2005 in Baygii, 155 miles north of Baghdad. He was on his second tour of Iraq due to stop loss orders when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded and hit his unarmored Humvee. She is available for interviews in English and Spanish. She is a member of Gold Star Families for Peace.

Cody Camacho of Chicago, IL served as specialist in the U.S. Army for four years. He was deployed to Iraq from March 2003 to March 2004, and was honorably discharged in October 2004. Cody works closely with Iraq Veterans Against the War and Veterans for Peace. Cody was honorably discharged from the Army in October 2004.

Linda and Phil Waste of Hinesville, GA have 3 sons and 2 grandchildren (a grandson and a granddaughter) who are active- duty military. Together, they have already spent a total of over 58 months on tours of duty in Iraq. Several of these children/grandchildren are currently serving in Iraq, and have served extended and multiple deployments. They are members of Military Families Speak Out.

Cindy Sheehan of Vacaville, CA whose son Spc. Casey Sheehan, age 24, was killed in action in Sadr City, Iraq on April 4, 2004. In August, the “Camp Casey” vigil she started outside of Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas was the origin of the “Bring Them Home Now” tour. Cindy is a co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace.

In addition to the events above, The Bring Them Home Now Tour, along with other Military Families and Veterans will participate in the following events between the 21st and 26th in Washington D.C.

Wednesday, September 21

8 PM - Vietnam and Iraq: the Lessons Ignored and Forgotten: Panel Discussion with Military Families and Veterans. At Kay Spiritual Center at American University.

Friday, September 23

7:30 PM - Military Families and Gold Star Families hold Vigil at “Camp Casey DC” On the National Mall, between 14th and 15th, near Constitution Avenue

Saturday, September 24

10 AM - Press Availability: Gold Star Families for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out and Veterans for Peace will march in a contingent among tens of thousands in opposition to Iraq War. Families and Veterans will gather under the tent marked by a banner reading “Real Support for the Troops Means Bring Them Home Now.” Location of the tent to be announced.

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: http://www.bringthemhomenowtour.org

For more information on the “United for Peace and Justice” Mass Mobilization against the War on Iraq, go to: http://www.bringthemhomenowtour.org

Contact Information

Ryan Fletcher

Tour Media Coordinator

Bring Them Home Now Tour

Contact via E-mail