Hood River, OR. – The nation’s largest grassroots, pro-troop organization, Move America Forward, is sending their main spokesperson, Debbie Lee back to Hood River, Oregon this week to face off against Cindy Sheehan, the anti-war protester who camped outside of President Bush’s Crawford, TX ranch.
“Hood River is my hometown,” said Debbie Lee, whose son Marc was the first Navy SEAL to be killed in the war in Iraq. “When I heard that Cindy Sheehan was going to be protesting the war, and protesting Insitu here in MY hometown, I knew I had to be there. That’s where I raised Marc and the rest of my children, that’s my home, and there’s no way I am going to let Cindy Sheehan bring her anti-American message without being there to say ‘You don’t speak for me, Cindy!’”
Through both have lost sons in the war, Debbie Lee speaks out in support of the troops and their missions in the war on terror. Her inspiring speeches at rallies across the country have inspired but most of all thanked our troops for their sacrifices. Cindy Sheehan has chosen to speak out against the war, often making unsubstantiated claims that her son Casey “stood up against an unjust war” despite the fact that her son re-enlisted and volunteered for the mission that ended his life.
Debbie Lee will be leading the pro-troop rally, expressing gratitude for our troops this Saturday April 17th in contrast to the anti-war ‘conference’ being held in the same town, where Cindy Sheehan is expected to speak in opposition to the War on Terror and the use of drone unmanned aircraft in that conflict.
Debbie’s son Marc was killed August 2nd of 2006 in Ramadi Iraq, sacrificing his own life to save his fellow SEALs. After a fellow teammate was wounded, Marc stood up in the line of fire twice to provide cover for his buddies to retreat. After seeing his team returned safely to base, Marc volunteered to go out again to find the same insurgents and took sniper fire through a window, again putting himself between the enemy and his fellow SEALs. Marc was posthumously awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star for Valor and a Purple Heart for his actions.
Casey Sheehan was killed on Palm Sunday, April 4th, 2004. An armored truck mechanic in the 82nd Field Artillery Regiment of the Army, Casey volunteered to go on a combat mission to rescue a group of soldiers pinned down by intense enemy fire. In the resulting firefight, Casey and 7 other soldiers gave their lives. Casey was posthumously awarded a Bronze star and Purple Heart for his heroic actions that day.
“Cindy Sheehan has trashed our troops, their mission, and the legacy left by millions of troops who have come before and sacrificed their lives to pay for the freedoms we now enjoy. Cindy takes those freedoms for granted; she does not recognize that without our brave troops, she would not have the freedom to speak out as she does. I’m going to back to my hometown of Hood River to remind Cindy that she doesn’t speak for Americans like myself and our members of Move America Forward. Unlike her, we support our troops, we appreciate their sacrifices, and we are grateful for what they’re doing right now, in the Middle East, to protect us back home.” concluded Lee.
*RALLY INFORMATION*
Who: Move America Forward, American Legion, Gorge Heroes Club, Patriot Guard
Speakers Include:
- Debbie Lee, Gold Star Mother of US Navy SEAL Marc Alan Lee
- Lynn Guenther, Director of American Legion Post 22
- Special Guest Speaker!! ( TBA )
What: Pro-Troop Rally to Support our Troops and Insitu Company
When: Saturday April 17th 2010, 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Where: Overlook Memorial Park (2nd and State St.), Hood River, Oregon
