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| 'Gold Star' Families of Slain Soldiers Clash Over Name | |
| 2005-10-31 | |
| (CNSNews.com) - Groups representing the family members of slain American soldiers in Iraq are upset with anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan and her group for the alleged "misuse" of the term "Gold Star." The gold star, usually displayed as a pin or banner, is a symbol representing family members of soldiers who die in combat. American Gold Star Mothers (AGSM) is one of several groups open to Americans who qualify, apply and pay dues. Founded in 1923, AGSM offers emotional support to mothers and encourages people to volunteer their time to help veterans who might be disabled obtain their military benefits. The problem, the groups say, is that the name of Sheehan's anti-war group, Gold Star Families for Peace, sounds similar to non-political groups like AGSM and Gold Star Wives of America. Members of four gold star groups in August asked for "an end to the misuse of one of the nation's most sacred symbols - the Gold Star - to politicize efforts for ending the war in Iraq." An ad hoc coalition of gold star families on Friday criticized Sheehan for using the term for political gain, stating that they were "thoroughly disgusted with Cindy Sheehan and her publicity stunts." Sheehan established Gold Star Families for Peace in January 2005 and gained media attention in August for her protest outside President Bush's Texas ranch. Sheehan demanded a meeting with Bush during her protest, which was dubbed "Camp Casey" after her son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, who was killed in Iraq in 2004. She had earlier met with president in April 2004 along with other families who had lost loved ones in Iraq. Sheehan has also organized protests in Washington. She was arrested in September for protesting outside the White House without a permit. Then she returned to Washington on Wednesday to commemorate the 2,000th U.S. soldier being killed in Iraq. Sheehan and her supporters staged a "die-in" near the White House grounds without a permit and were arrested again. American Gold Star Mothers president Judith Young said the problem with Sheehan's group is that people get confused and assume she speaks for all gold star families. "It's just that when someone says she's a gold star mother ... they associate it with us." Young added that every time Sheehan is in the news, her group gets e-mails and calls supporting and attacking the group because they think Sheehan speaks for the organization.
Young does not believe Sheehan, whose son Casey was killed in Iraq, intentionally chose to confuse people by using "Gold Star" in her group's name, but another gold star representative was more suspicious of Sheehan's motives. "What the Left does is they hijack traditional symbols of America and turn them inside out for their own anti-American motives," Kristinn Taylor told Cybercast News Service. Taylor is a spokesman for the coalition criticizing Sheehan. In its statement, Taylor's group said it was "angered that Mrs. Sheehan is once again using our fallen loved ones against our wishes to undermine the cause they voluntarily gave their lives for." Representatives from Gold Star Families for Peace did not return calls and e-mails requesting comment for this article. | |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #6 I prefer hunter / killer teams. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-10-31 17:27 |
| #5 Seems like a problem for a trademark trial attorney. |
| Posted by: Phising Shinemp9791 2005-10-31 17:20 |
| #4 Yellow Star: Nazi Symbol for the JOOOOOOOOOOS. It all makes sense now! /insane |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2005-10-31 16:20 |
| #3 the song remains the same |
| Posted by: Robert Plant 2005-10-31 11:05 |
| #2 Orwell had these people like Sheehan pegged to a tee. The cast may change over time, but the play remains the same. |
| Posted by: ed 2005-10-31 09:47 |
| #1 DEATH to sheehanistas and all they represent!!! |
| Posted by: ARMYGUY 2005-10-31 09:28 |