Bring Them Home

From Linda Osbon, Hickory, NC:

Despite rain showers and gusty winds Wednesday night, citizens from Hickory, Taylorsville, Lincolnton, and Morganton gathered on Union Square in Hickory to mark the 5th anniversary of the Iraq war. The candle light vigil was one of hundreds held across the nation by MoveOn members and allies in the progressive movement.

The group gathered to honor the fallen and call upon leaders to end the war and set new priorities for our nation. Participants listened to stories from veterans and military families and how they have been impacted personally. Stories from some of the many people that have paid the true cost of this war in human life and precious resources.

Close to 4,000 American soldiers have died. Many more have been seriously injured. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed or forced out of their homes. On top of all that, people here at home – far from the front lines in Iraq -- are suffering due to a slowing economy and we don't have the resources to help them because we're wasting billions in Iraq.

It’s time to bring our troops home and invest in clean energy, affordable health care, access to education, and jobs.

It's time for new priorities, and a new page in American foreign policy.