ACTION ALERT: Letters to President Elect Obama: Support Troops, Honor Veterans

November 11th, 2008 - by admin

Peace Action & VoteVets.org – 2008-11-11 22:33:52

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/161/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1337

Support our Troops: Bring them Home
Peace Action

Every year on this day Peace Action has traditionally sent you an Armistice Day message. We do so to honor the spirit of this day when we celebrate the end of World War 1 on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour. Today though, we cannot reflect on our past without being reminded of our present.

To date 4,171 American troops have been killed in Iraq. Those who did survive to come home and speak out against the war have been met with police violence in the streets of New York and St. Paul (video).

Today, we ask you to remember Armistice Day and our Veterans by taking action to bring US troops home from the failed war on terrorism and support them when they are here.

No Soldier Left Behind is a comprehensive plan to bring our troops home from Iraq once and for all; safely, speedily, and with the interest of sustainable peace in mind.

• SIGN IT HERE.

No Soldier Left Behind is an open letter to President elect Obama from the American people calling on him to pursue a strategy that includes:

• Withdrawing all troops and private contractors within one year without leaving a vulnerable and provocative residual force

• Creating a “diplomatic surge” that engages Iraq’s neighbors (including Iran and Syria) and the international community

• Leading donor efforts for Iraqi-controlled reconstruction and humanitarian aid, and securing assistance to Iraq’s almost 5 million displaced people, as well as for Iraqis endangered due to their assistance of the US effort

• Assisting in the establishment of international peacekeeping and stabilization forces if requested by the Iraqi people

SIGN OUR OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA
President elect Obama has become a spokesperson for change in this country. Tell him to fully embrace that role by throwing out Bush’s failed ‘war on terror’. We cannot win peace with bombs. The only solution is to pursue real security through diplomatic cooperation and funding human needs here and abroad. Please sign today.

Sincerely,
Kevin M. Martin, Executive Director, Peace Action


A Letter from Vets to the President-Elect:
Consider Appointments of Two Vets — Max Cleland and Tammy Duckworth

VoteVets.org
The Voice of America’s 21st Century Patriots

On the 11th Day of the 11th Month each year, we honor all those veterans who came before us. This year, as in recent years, we also honor the newest generation of war veterans. Today is not a day for partisan politics, it’s a day for the nation to come together as one to honor those who sacrificed for our nation, in uniform.

This year, however, we also have a tremendous opportunity to honor two of the greatest veterans this nation has ever seen. With the incoming administration, comes the opportunity to send incredible veterans back into government to serve this nation, as they have time and time again.

SSign our petition for Max Cleland and Tammy Duckworth to have a role in the Obama Administration.

Max Cleland served our nation with honor in Vietnam, losing three limbs on the battlefield. Max could have used that as an excuse to live out the rest of his life quietly, but he did not. Upon his return, he served Veterans in his home state of Georgia, and then became the head of the Veterans Administration (now the Department of Veterans Affairs).

He served his home state again, as a member of the U.S. Senate. Every step of the way, Max never forgot the veterans who came before him, and those who would be coming after him.

Tammy Duckworth served America in Iraq. Duckworth lost both of her legs in 2004, when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting was hit by a rocket propelled grenade fired by Iraqi insurgents. Duckworth received a Purple Heart and was promoted to Major at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where she was presented with an Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal.

Upon her return home, she ran for Congress in 2006, and now serves as the head of the veterans department in Illinois. Tammy has even remained in the National Guard, showing that nothing will keep her from serving her country!
Now is the time for President-Elect Obama to show the nation that he recognizes it is important to bring America’s great veterans into his administration. One way he can do that is to name Max Cleland and Tammy Duckworth to roles in his administration.

Please use today to honor the veterans in your area – volunteer your services to the local veterans center, connect with veterans in the area and listen to them about the challenges veterans face, and above all, thank them for their service. But, also take a moment to show support for two particular veterans, Max Cleland and Tammy Duckworth, and tell your friends and family to join us in asking that they be asked back into government at this crucial time for veterans in America.

Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran, Chairman, VoteVets.org

• Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.
Tell-a-friend!


Cleland Duckworth Petition

Please sign below, asking President-Elect Obama to find a role for Max Cleland and Tammy Duckworth, two of America’s greatest veterans, in his administration. We’ll deliver the petition to the Presidential Transition Team for you. Don’t forget to ask your friends and family to join us in this effort!

Full Petition Text:
We the undersigned are voicing our support for President-Elect Obama to bring former Senator Max Cleland and Tammy Duckworth into the new administration.
Max Cleland served our nation with honor in Vietnam, losing three limbs on the battlefield. Max could have used that as an excuse to live out the rest of his life quietly, but he did not. Upon his return, he served Veterans in his home state of Georgia, and then became the head of the Veterans Administration (now the Department of Veterans Affairs). He served his home state again, as a member of the Senate. Every step of the way, Max never forgot the veterans who came before him, and those who would be coming after him.

Tammy Duckworth served America in Iraq. Duckworth lost both of her legs in 2004, when the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter she was co-piloting was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade fired by Iraqi insurgents. Duckworth received a Purple Heart and was promoted to Major at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where she was presented with an Air Medal and Army Commendation Medal. Upon her return home, she ran for Congress in 2006, and now serves as the head of the veterans department in Illinois. Tammy has even remained in the National Guard, showing that nothing will keep her from serving her country!

Those are the kind of people we need in government, especially right now.

Now is the time for President-Elect Obama to show the nation that he recognizes it is important to bring our greatest veterans into his administration. One way he can do that is to name Max Cleland and Tammy Duckworth to a role in his administration.

Signed by:
[Your name]
[Your address]