Military Families Speak Out is deeply saddened by the death of co-founder Charley Richardson, who passed away Saturday, May 4th. Charley has been a beacon of hope and inspiration, a mentor and teacher, and a shoulder to cry on for so many of us in this movement and beyond.

The seeds of MFSO were sown in the summer of 2002 when Charley’s son, a U.S. Marine, was being deployed and it became clear he would most likely be ending up in Iraq. As life-long peace and labor activists, Charley, and his wife Nancy Lessin, knew they couldn’t sit by silently while their son was being sent into harm’s way, to a war that should not be happening, an illegal and immoral war of aggression. They brought a sign to anti-war protests with their son’s picture on it that said, “Our Son Is A Marine – Don’t Send Him to War for Oil!” Charley and Nancy were overwhelmed by the response they received to the power of their voice as a military family protesting the war.

At one of these rallies they met another a father whose son was facing deployment to Kuwait. Together, they formed Military Families Speak Out to organize and amplify the voices of military families in opposition to an invasion of Iraq. Just months later, Nancy and Charley spoke at a press conference, offering their home phone number for MFSO; within days, two hundred families from around the country joined the organization.

In February, 2003 Charley and Nancy were lead plaintiffs in a lawsuit against then-President George W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, calling for a temporary restraining order that would prevent the U.S. from invading Iraq until there was a congressionally mandated declaration of war. Three active-duty service members, other MFSO members and twelve Members of Congress were part of that lawsuit. The case went two rounds in the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and finally failed on March 18, 2003. The bombs dropped on Baghdad the next day.

For the next two years MFSO existed in Charley and Nancy’s living room. On top of their day jobs as prominent labor activists, Nancy and Charley wrote grant proposals, helped members start chapters, trained families on how to speak to the media and pushed tirelessly to create a home for families like them, who had loved ones in the military and were opposed to the war. Families came to them with the same story. “Thank God I found you. I thought I was the only one! What can I do to be a part of this?”

In 2005, MFSO was able to rent an office and hire a small staff. The chapter network grew from 6 to over 30 chapters. MFSO members spoke at local, national and international press conferences; rallied and held vigils at the offices and homes of Senators and members of Congress; formed chapters on military bases and base towns; collected and delivered tens of thousands of letters, postcards and messages to elected officials; spoke at forums in churches, union halls, community centers, high schools and universities; appeared on “The Lehrer News Hour,” “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” National Public Radio, and CNN; and were featured in articles in The New York Times, Military Times, War Times, Stars and Stripes, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune and other local, national and international press. MFSO helped to change the definition of what it meant to “support the troops,” as MFSO’s mantra “Support Our Troops – Bring Them Home NOW!” caught on across the country.

In May, 2007, Charley and Nancy received devastating news—Charley was diagnosed with a very advanced, aggressive cancer. Originally given a prognosis of 18 months to live, he defied the odds and continued to live, fight, and love to his fullest. He learned to take vacations, welcomed three dearly beloved grandchildren, and laughed and played with his growing family. Charley continued his work as a labor educator and MFSO leader through the ups and downs of his struggles with his illness, treatment, and declining health. Charley brought his all to his life work, till he could no longer work.

Charley passed away peacefully on May 4th, 2013 at home after a six-year battle with cancer, surrounded by his beloved wife and co-agitator Nancy, and their loved ones. Our best testament to the life and work of Charley Richardson is to continue his legacy in word and action. May we all hold close what he has given us and carry him with us in all that we do. Rest in power Charley — the power of a life well-lived and well-loved.

Charley’s impact on us all is beautifully stated by several MFSO members on a Facebook tribute page (where details about sharing condolences and donating in his honor are held, and where information will be shared about a Memorial to be planned for the summer):

Connie C:

“Charley & Nancy – I don’t think either of you realize what an impact you had on my life. When we first met (at Mike and Betsy’s) I was struggling – I had voted for W in 2000, my brother was in Afghanistan and I was confused. Charley’s gentle soul and kind spirit helped guide me. I found my voice – it was shaky – but I learned that I could speak – and to my amazement – people listened. Charley you were my teacher. Thank you for helping uncover the wise, peaceful, liberal, brave being that I really am!”

How grateful we are for the email you sent to us back in 2005. “Thank you” just does not seem to say enough for all you and Charley have given to us and to so many others. We are holding all of you within our hearts and sending loving, comforting thoughts your way. Thank you Charley for giving so much of yourself to right the wrongs, you will always be with us. Linda & Phil

Charley and Nancy, I met you at such an awful time in my life. My daughter was physically compromised and at war. After all the rejection I was facing because I hated the Iraq war, you embraced me, as you did so many of us, and you pointed us in the right direction. My prayers, my love, and my hugs from Georgia are with you. As I told you Charley, this picture (below) makes me smile. It’s my favorite picture from the anti Iraq war movement. I faded it because I can see the graphics on my desktop much better that way. It looks like you are saying “we’ve won!”. Charley and Nancy you both HAVE won. you have won my heart and the hearts of so many. I love you both more than there are words. Thank you for coming into my life.

• Jeffrey Lucey and Military Suicides 
• Jobs Not War goes to DC
• IVAW: What’s up in 2013
• Brooklyn for Peace holds forum on drones in the commons
• And more!

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• Catch up on the Jobs Not War Campaign,
• Peace Activists WIN : NBC’s Offensive War ‘Reality’ Program is Canceled. We called for the program to be cancelled, we protested at NBC studios, and now we can celebrate the end of a terrible program.
• Updates from Bergern County MFSO

Click here for Newsletter: Collateral Damage

Regarding “Lessons of Iraq guide us as we confront Iran” (Other Views, March 19):

The recent column by U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J, describes lessons he says he has learned since the U.S. invasion of Iraq 10 years ago. New Jersey Peace Action applauded Menendez then, but we cannot applaud support for military action against Iran today under any circumstances.

The last 10 years of war in Iraq and 11 years of war in Afghanistan taught us that war is costly. More than 8,000 U.S. and coalition members lost their lives, with thousands more injured or diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. More than 4 million Iraqis were made into refugees. We’ve spent more than $1.7 trillion on both wars during a time of economic recession.

Rather than put “all options on the table,” let’s pick one — diplomacy — and stop threatening Iran. This fight isn’t just about Iran not having nuclear weapons. It’s about all countries in the Middle East becoming nuclear-weapons-free. Parties to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty planned a conference on this topic in December 2012 in Helsinki, but it was postponed. The United States claimed that political instability in the Middle East made it the wrong time.

But it is exactly the right time. Domestic opposition to a U.S.-led invasion of Iran would be tremendous, as many Americans are war-weary. War against Iran through either the front or the back door would be disastrous. When will we learn that diplomacy will work better than war to create a genuinely secure Middle East?

Madelyn Hoffman

Bloomfield, March 22

The writer is executive director of NJ Peace Action. The letter was also signed by Paula Rogovin of Bergen County Military Families Speak Out.

Read original article here

The gesture ended a two-hour gathering of songs and speeches by the Teaneck Peace Vigil to mark the 10th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War and renewed calls for an immediate end to the war in Afghanistan.

“Ten years, we have been doing these vigils, over, and over and over again — and we’re still here,” said Paula Rogovin, lead organizer.

Since August 2005, the group — including current and retired teachers, military veterans and even parents of active duty military personnel — has gathered every Wednesday near the Teaneck Armory property to call for an end, first to the Iraq War and then war in Afghanistan.

Nearly 4,500 Americans service members died and more than 30,000 were wounded in warfare in Iraq before combat troops departed at the end of 2011. Troops are expected to remain in Afghanistan through 2014.

“War is madness,” Frank Wagner, 71, a Vietnam veteran from Bogota , said of why he’s attended the vigils for six or so years.

Six veterans held a banner reading, “Out of Afghanistan.” Others held signs decrying the use of unmanned drone aircraft equipped with missiles. Others urged “Bring Our Troops Home, Send the Politicians” and sang the song “Let There be Peace on Earth.”

A 94-year-old Rutherford resident paced the corner, shouting into a bullhorn that the troops should be brought home and there should be no more blood for oil.

Noting vigils held in all weather, Karen Decolle of Leonia said “I never believed in it [the war]. … Most people don’t even think about it or even remember that it’s happening, but it is … and people need to be reminded that this is happening and that we need to end it.”

Rogovin read a letter from John Fenton, whose son Marine Sgt. Matthew Fenton of Little Ferry died in May 2006 from injuries sustained in a vehicle bombing near Fallujah. Fenton wrote of the “tremendous hole in the hearts of the families” who lost loved ones and said he feared another war.

“I hope that I am wrong, but I believe you should hold onto your young children very tightly before it is too late,” he wrote.

Read original article here

The campaign will contribute to the mobilization of progressive forces for the budget battle that will take place in 2013.

Click here to sign the petition!

As Military Families Speak Out faces major organizational changes, we want to thank you for your support and participation over the last 9 years. Together, MFSO members, supporters, and donors have made a difference in the lives of our troops, veterans and families:

• We worked every day to change attitudes towards the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. With our efforts, along with so many others, those wars are drawing to a close and the soldiers are coming home.
• We participated in local, regional and national events to bring our focus and mission before the public.
• We visited Congress members at home and lobbied them in Washington, and sponsored post cards campaigns and email campaigns to speak clearly to our elected officials.
• We wrote editorials, gave interviews and educated the American public on the true costs of the wars, including the needs of soldiers and families to heal from the trauma of war.
• In 2011 we held our first healing retreat in South Dakota for veterans and their families.

Due to the economic situation that many progressive organizations are currently facing, Military Families Speak Out has been forced to change our structure. Under the advisement of the MFSO’s co-founders, Charley Richardson and Nancy Lessin, as well as past Board members, it was decided that for the foreseeable future, we will no longer have paid staff or national office. Effective August 1st MFSO became an all-volunteer organization.

MFSO will continue as a virtual organization, run by the all-volunteer Board of Directors. We must now ask more of our members to help us speak out against the war in Afghanistan, possible unjust future wars, and to make sure our nation takes care of our troops before, during and after their deployments. This organization is too important to lose. We count on your continued support to continue to keep MFSO and its mission viable via the website and Facebook, as well as the activity of members at the local and national level.

After losing significant foundation funding in the past few years, we are now relying almost exclusively on individual donations from our members and supporters to keep the organization going. If you value MFSO and want to see the organization continue, please give as generously as you’re able. Click here to make a donation.

The Board of MFSO values ALL contributions, ideas and feedback from members and supporters, and we’d like to hear from you about these recent changes. You can provide feedback through our online form, an all-member conference call on September 10th, or by emailing the Board at mfso@mfso.org

• Click here to fill out our online feedback survey and let us know what you want from MFSO and how you’re willing to be involved.
• Join us for a conference call with MFSO Board members, open to all members of MFSO, on Monday, September 10th at 8pm EST. Conference Call information: Call-in number 605-477-2100, access code 226816#.

We invite you to join with us as we change with the times. Our presence may be different, but the dedication of MFSO and its place in the community of support for soldiers, veterans and their families is unchanged.

The MFSO Board of Directors
Katy Zatsick, Board Chair
Mary Hladky, Vice Chair
Rosalie Donatelli, Treasurer
Diana Clements, Northwest Representative
Maureen Casey, West Coast Representative
Dottye Ricks, At-large

MFSO, Veterans for Peace, Just Foreign Policy & RootsAction.org and other peace organizations have joined together to protest NBC’s new show – Stars Earn Stripes.   The show is hosted by General Wesley Clark.   Celebrities will compete in “military inspired challenges” to raise funds for various veteran groups.  Which, on the surface sounds good.

But, in actuality this show glorifies war and is being used as a recruitment tool.  WAR IS NOT A GAME.  WAR IS NOT ENTERTAINMENT.   WAR IS “HELL” involving the death and injury of our troops as well as innocent victims.

We are asking NBC to stop treating war as sport.  We support the end of War – no more deaths and injuries.

A protest was held outside the NYC NBC studios yesterday.  We hand delivered over 17,000 names protesting this show with many more to follow.

Visit www.StarsEarnStripes.org - to sign a petition protesting this show

Read the article, Peace Laureates Call on NBC to Cancel New Show: ‘War Isn’t Entertainment’

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/08/13-3

Anna Berlinrut, a MFSO member states “As the mother of a Marine about to deploy to Afghanistan for his 6th mission in harm’s way, I find trivializing war to be horrendous and profit making from war to be a crime.”

David Swanson, RootsAction, states “The ads brag about the use of real bullets, but depict war as a harmless sport…It is a normalization of war that erases the death and suffering.”

Leah Bolger, Pres., Veterans for Peace, stated:  “Retired General Wesley Clark should be ashamed of himself for his role in promoting this “reality” show.   He knows better than most that war is not a game played by contestants.  In a promotion for the show, he tries to impress us with its realism – live ammo, real explosions, and real danger”….”NBC makes a profit out of making war into entertainment.”

Please Support our Troops and the innocent victims of war by adding your voice to this protest.  Click on the link to add your name!   www.StarsEarnStripes.org  

All experience levels are welcome!  Whether you’re interested in pressuring Congress, planning a healing retreat for military families and veterans, getting more MFSO voices in the media, or helping the inner-workings of the organization, there’s a committee for you.

Committees typically meet by conference call at mutually agreed-upon times and communicate over email listservs. Read below for descriptions and contact information.

Have other ideas of how you’d like to be involved with MFSO? Click here to let us know.

Legislative Committee: The MFSO Legislative Committee tracks legislation on issues related to Afghanistan, Iran, the military budget, and veteran’s issues to coordinates grassroots and online lobbying and educational efforts.Email mary@mfso.org or click here to get involved

Healing Retreat Committee: This committee is responsible for planning the second annual MFSO Healing Retreat, based on the success of last year’s Memorial Day Retreat in South Dakota.  This time around we’re talking about holding a retreat on the East Coast this Autumn. Email samantha@mfso.org or click here to get involved

Media Committee: This committee is just beginning to form, and the possibilities are endless: tracking media, crafting responses to current events, writing talking points and press releases, writing blogs and Letters to the Editor, and the list goes on!  Email samantha@mfso.org or click here to get involved.

Fundraising Committee: Perhaps the most vital committee to the continuation of MFSO, this committee focuses on grassroots fundraising to support the ongoing work of the organization.  If you have any fundraising experience, or want to learn, please get involved!  Email oskar@mfso.org or click here to get involved

NEW! Leadership Committee: The Leadership Committee will serve as a critical builder and community champion within MFSO.  Members of the committee will help to recruit new members and build leadership within the membership, assist in nurturing MFSO’s organizational development, build new alliances, and share their particular gifts in service to our mission.  Email oskar@mfso.org or click here to get involved

Whether you’re interested in pressuring Congress, planning a healing retreat for military families and veterans, getting more MFSO voices in the media, or helping the inner-workings of the organization, or something else we haven’t thought of, fill out this form and let us know. A member of the staff or board will follow up with you shortly.