Antiwar Activist Bids a Son Farewell

[BrklynLiberal]

Antiwar Activist Bids a Son Farewell
Minnesota State Senator Never Asked Lorton Soldier to Refuse His Duty

By Brigid Schulte
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, June 11, 2005; B02

Becky Lourey walked the nearly two miles in the sweltering heat of the afternoon yesterday from the Old Post Chapel at Arlington National Cemetery to the freshly dug grave in Section 60, No. 8,187, where her son, Matthew, was to be buried.

Lourey, one of the most liberal state senators in Minnesota, had been one of the most outspoken critics of the war in Iraq. She circulated a petition opposing the U.S. decision to go to war unilaterally. She publicly sparred with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld.

And at a Democratic campaign rally last year, as Matthew was preparing to return voluntarily for a second tour of duty in Iraq, she railed against President Bush. "I don't want any more chicken hawks making these decisions, lying to us about the reasons," she said.

Yesterday, she walked slowly and deliberately behind a military band and the clip-clopping horses pulling a caisson with Matthew's coffin. She walked, along with Matthew's wife and nine of his brothers and sisters, their children and dozens of black-clad friends and mourners because, they said, it was one way they could honor him.

<snip>

Military officers left the family alone with the silver coffin that soon would be lowered into the ground. Becky Lourey, a woman who bore four children and adopted eight, a politician who voted on a resolution to support the troops but not President Bush, wept.

more..
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/10/AR2005061001980_pf.html

:cry:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

1. Rest in peace, Matthew Lourey

And may your mother find peace as well... :cry:

[bahrbearian]

2. I'm so sorry for her loss.

[Robbien]

3. Peace be with you Senator

This world has lost too many good ones too early these days.

I wish you Peace.

[SW FL Dem]

4. May her son rest in peace n/t

[daleo]

5. What a waste.

One more died before his time because of Bush's and Blair's lies.

[Maat]

6. I was listening to a radio interview with her.

I can't even remember the host - it was one of our progressive hosts. She is one courageous lady, that backed her son Matt 100% even though she had raised in the bosom of liberal activism. The interview was a few days ago; she kept slipping and talking as if Matt was still alive. It was so sad. But she didn't cry during the interview. She is just one courageous lady.

May Matt rest in peace; I'm certain he transitioned successfully and I know that his protective healing energy will surround his family forever.

Spirit bless his wife and all of his family.

Peace,

[Algomas]

8. Democracy Now..

The point she made about the outsourcing of military troop support via a no bid contract to Halliburton was very good. Her son had served in Bosnia and Iraq, he told her that in Bosnia the support was not outsourced and worked very well. In Iraq, he had to sleep on the sand for six weeks because the contractor was incompetent. She said that, on top of that disgrace, Halliburton is not even a US corporation and pays no US taxes, yet they are one of the few beneficiaries of this illegal war.
What a terrific woman. I thank her for speaking out.

[Maat]

10. That was it! Thanks for reminding me (n/t).

[mike_c]

21. that was an incredibly moving interview....

I was amazed by her strength.

[Maat]

27. Me too! (n/t). I was also amazed by her strength.

[slay]

7. Another terribly sad loss that never needed to happen

:(

[salin]

9. RIP

and condolences to his family.

[Merlin]

11. DUers, let's send this exceptional liberal leader messages of our support.

Her email address is:
[e-mail]

I had never heard of her until this. But I applaud this woman.

Listen to these credentials:
-- 4 children biologically her own
-- 8 children adoptively her own
-- owns her own business
-- 3 terms in the Minnesota Senate
-- 2 children in combat despite virulent opposition to the war
-- a well know, outspoken liberal stalwart

Let's send her messages of our admiration and support.
[e-mail]

[Merlin]

12. Message just sent

[e-mail]

Dear Senator Lourey,

May we add our heartfelt sympathy for your grief.

As a Vietnam combat vet, turned Vietnam Veteran Against the War, I understand where you are coming from as a proud military parent, yet an outspoken opponent of an ill-conceived war.

Take courage from the good work you are doing; the good fight you are waging.

God Bless,

(my wife and I)

[funkybutt]

19. Sent!

condolences from Louisiana

RIP Matt

[DeepModem Mom]

13. Sadly kicking --

[Doctor_J]

14. Here's what I sent

Senator Lourey -

I just read about your loss. You and your son are true American heroes. Rest assured that all of us in the peace movement are heartbroken over your sacrifice, and you will inspire us to redouble our efforts to end this war of lies.

Bless you and your family,

[katinmn]

15. I started this thread in the MN forum last night

Thanks for bringing it to a wider audience, brooklyn lib. :hug:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=160&topic_id=11235&mesg_id=11235

Sen. Lourey is a well respected Progressive leader in the Minnesota Senate. Once she's regained her footing following this loss, she will lead us in even more robust efforts to stop Bush's War.

[gratuitous]

16. So that means the antiwar activist has lost one more child

Than the entire Bush administration has committed to the ongoing atrocity in Iraq.

[Hissyspit]

25. Here is the text of the email I have composed. If anyone sees any

problems with it, let me know. I don't think she would mind me posting it here. I think the main thing is that she receives it:


DEAR SENATOR LOUREY -
My sincere condolences on the loss of your son, with his sincere motives being unassailable.

I am a college professor in North Carolina, the son of a father who did two tours of duty in Viet Nam. I too have railed against the manipulation of the emotions and motivations by the insincere "chickenhawks" who have been given/taken power in this country. I thought that it might help to know that you have not been alone in your feelings. I teach on Fort Bragg, and, had your son decided to attend a degree program on post, could have conceivably been one of my students.

I have no children of my own and therefore find it hard to imagine your feelings, but wanted to let you know that many around the country are aware of who you are and what has happened.

Again, My condolences, and I'm sure I speak for many of my friends and family.

[SaveAmerica]

28. Hello, Hissy, it sounds good, the only thing I would change is the

given/taken phrase, it could easily just be 'taken' but that's how I feel about the elections. Do you mind if I ask you a slightly related question? In yesterday's Fayetteville Observer the front page had a poll of people from Fay and Bragg about Iraq. One of the questions was about whether the war in Iraq was worth it or not and 50% said it was worth it. I was shocked that it was so low for a military town. Do you know if that's how's it's been all along or are less people supporting the war now? I'm going to write a letter to the editor to ensure those who are training for and fighting in Iraq know that although I am 100% against us being in Iraq, I am 100% for our soldiers. Here's the article (check out the last paragraph that is one heck of a statistic, on second thought I think this deserves a post of it's own):

http://www.fayettevilleobserver.com/story.php?Template=local&Story=7053349


Half of the people living in Cumberland County believe the war in Iraq has been worth fighting, according to a poll conducted for The Fayetteville Observer this spring.

The poll's findings suggest that nearly three years of heavy deployments have taken a toll - on attitudes about the war, on marriages and family finances, and on the desire of service members to stay in uniform.

Yet, despite the strains, Cumberland County residents believe their community is more patriotic than others, the poll shows. Although people here are almost as divided as the rest of the country on the value of invading Iraq, support for soldiers is overwhelming.

Residents here appear to make a clear distinction between the merits of the war and support for men and women fighting it. Veterans say that wasn't always the case during Vietnam, the last major divisive conflict involving Fort Bragg soldiers.

The findings are based on phone interviews with 1,004 adults between March 31 and April 18. KPC Research of Charlotte conducted the Military Impact Poll on behalf of the Observer by randomly sampling households across the county, including those on Fort Bragg. The sample represents the opinions of the 216,700 adults in the county, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

Among the findings:

# One in four residents of Cumberland County, regardless of whether they had any connection to the military, personally knew someone killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. A larger portion of people - nearly 40 percent - know someone who was wounded. About 1,900 service members have died in the two conflicts; another 13,000 have been wounded.

[malmapus]

17. Kicking and sent her a letter of support

..

[BrklynLiberal]

18. Deserves another kick

[fortyfeetunder]

20. Does our Congress understand a mother's grief

Wish the majority leaders in Congress had a clue about their fellow state legislator's grief.

I will send a letter to Rep. Lourey.

And I nominated this topic.

:kick: :cry:

[Hissyspit]

22. kicking and nominating again

[MeDeMax]

23. ditto

[progressoid]

24. .

:grouphug:

[roguevalley]

26. appallingly sad