Iraq War Veteran takes over leadership activist organization - Grassroots America 

WASHINGTON, DC, March 29, 2008 - Recently, Tina Richards resigned from her post at Grassroots America. After first marching to Capitol Hill to speak on behalf of her son, an Iraq veteran, Tina has accomplished much as a veteran's rights advocate. Now, her son, Iraq Veteran Cloy Richards is taking over leadership of the organization she helped found.

 

Cloy has informed me (among many others) that, “Many of the Marines I served with in battle have told me countless times to tell Tina "Thank you", "Keep up the good work", and "We love what you're doing for us".

 

As the parent of a child that also served in Iraq, I also want to recognize that Tina went far above and beyond what most Mothers, or loved ones for that matter, will do and challenged members of Congress in the most non-partisan way imaginable. I personally believe it was her non-partisan approach of focusing on a Democratic Congressman, and Democratic members of Congress who had forgotten who helped regain control of Congress for them.

 

No politicians, especially those who never served in combat, let alone our Armed Forces, wants to admit it, but the Democratic Party would never have won in November 2006 without the swing vote of the anti-Iraq War movement combined with overall growing national public opinion against the war in Iraq (Bush surge or no surge).

 

It would do the Democratic Party wise to remember that (Surge No Surge) or forfeit the next election by trying to be too Republican. Major Bobby Hanafin, U.S. Air Force-Retired

No-Nonsense - Tina Richards. It is not about being Republican or Democrat. What is most important is knowing the difference between RIGHT and WRONG.

WASHINGTON - MARCH 12, 2008, [12 months ago] Tina Richards, the mother of a U.S. Marine facing a third deployment to Iraq, and her daughter Christine wait for a meeting at the office of U.S. Rep. David Obey (D-WI), Chairperson of the House Appropriations Committee [March 12, 2007] on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. [Though not with the same degree of demonizing that Cindy Sheehan received nationally] Richards still made national headlines after footage of her in a confrontation with Obey outside the [Democratic] congressional representative’s office made its way on YouTube [March 2008]. She questioned Congressman David Obey’s seriousness and passion about the Iraq War by his taking little to no action in stopping the war in Iraq. Richards was scheduled to meet with Obey’s staff today. Richards said after the meeting that she was disappointed by Democrats' efforts to stop the war [after being helped by the anti-war movement and anti-Iraq War public sentiment in general to take back Congress]. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Caption: Tina Richards  Note: Let me tell you folks when members of the anti-Iraqinam War movement start getting their photos and related issues rated high enough to get into the Getty Art and Photo Archives, not even the mainstream media can SILENCE anti-Iraqinam War sentiment indefinitely. Major Hanafin Search the Getty Image Archive for other activist(s) or groups.http://www.daylife.com/photo/07sLd712Xy9hS

A Family's Pain and Healing at Camp Casey
A Film by Scott Galindez

 When Cloy Richards went to Iraq, his mother and little sister was also affected. All three took the stage at Camp Casey and shared their pain. Camp Casey was not irrelevant to the Richards family - for them it was a place of healing. QuickTime  Video available on Truthout Video Archive: http://www.truthout.org/multimedia.htm Or via one of the LINKS below.

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Windows Media
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Image Courtesy of Truthout.org

http://truthout.org/imgs.art_01/3.cloy.grab.jpg

WASHINGTON - MARCH 17, 2008: [12 months ago] Marine Corporal Cloy Richards (2nd from Left), holding the IVAW banner next to Garrett Reppenhagen (on Cloy’s left). Cloy’s mom Tina Richards made national headlines after she had a confrontation with Rep. David Obey (D-WI) questioning Obey's effort and sincerity on stopping the war in Iraq. Cloy marches along side other Iraq War Veterans [activists] towards the Pentagon during an anti-Iraq war protest March 17, 2007 in Washington, DC. Protesters held a rally at the Pentagon to mark the 4th anniversary of the war in Iraq. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Caption: Cloy Richards.

 

Cloy had this to say about his Mom, “As her son, I couldn't be more proud to have a mother who loves, cherishes, and defends the very country I have been so willing to give my life for. It is with my love for her, for God, for America, and most importantly, for the love of all who have served and are serving in our military that I, Cloy Richards, look forward to accepting the appointment of CEO of Grassroots America…”

 

http://www.grassrootsamerica4us.org/

 

Grassroots America
715 Princeton Place NW
Washington DC  20010

Cloy@GrassrootsAmerica4us.org

Grassroots America will continue its efforts under Iraq War Veteran Cloy Richards to empower military families, minority voices, veterans and disabled veterans alike. They will continue to change the debate on Capitol Hill, stand up and speak out and help everyone who is silenced or muzzled find their voices and speak truth to power.  I wish Cloy Richards good fortune and success in the mission objectives of Grassroots America and urge all Veterans and Military Families who are fed up with political wrangling over Iraq, regardless of your views on the war to join any Grassroots organization that seriously has it main goal in life to end the Iraq War.

 

From THAT source of [evil] all money, wounds, death and sorrow flows. To almost quote one of our most INFAMOUS Defense Secretaries, “We do not get the U.S. Economy we want; we get the U.S. Economy we deserve” for allowing the sin of Iraqinam to continue as long as it has.

I am confident that Cloy will carry on the great work already done by Grassroots America, if that means no more than being a hard thorn to pull out of the side of Congress, both political parties, and the next President whomever it may be.

 

I look forward to working with Cloy and everyone who has helped Tina during her many battles in D.C. and I hope we can accomplish much more together to bring our troops

home safely in far less time than another decade or 90 plus years. Thank you, Tina for your time and support to the anti-Iraqinam War Movement, and giving WE THE PEOPLE your son once again.

 

Posted By: Robert L. Hanafin, Major, U.S. Air Force-Retired

Military Families Speak Out - Ohio