Green Party of California honors war dead, cautions troops should be withdrawn from Iraq, Afghanistan to avoid ‘more loss'

GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release: Sunday, May 30, 2005

Contacts:
Cres Vellucci, State Press Office, 916-996-1970,
Beth Moore Haines, GPCA Spokesperson, 530-277-0610,
Sara Amir, GPCA Spokesperson, 310-270-7106,

SACRAMENTO (May 30, 2005) – In a Memorial Day statement issued today, the Green Party of California honored those who have given their lives in time of war, and strongly urged that U.S. troops be withdrawn from Iraq and Afghanistan to avoid more loss of life.

The Greens, remembering that about 200 California military personnel have been killed and thousands wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, said the goal now should be to limit deaths, without minimizing the sacrifices, of those who have died.

"The Green Party, which has committed itself to ending the current wars that ask our soldiers and sailors to pay that price, also honor the service of those who have paid that price. We must not only honor the dead, but also grieve with the families," said Craig Peterson, a member of the GPCA state coordinating committee and Vietnam-era veteran.

"As important, we must make sure that the troops are withdrawn from Iraq and Afghanistan before more are asked to give their lives," he added.

Peterson noted that Memorial Day was proclaimed in 1868 after the U.S. suffered four years of civil war and those on both sides of the conflict started to come together out of respect for those who had died.

"Citizens from both the North and the South could agree on at least one thing, that those they had sent to fight should be honored for giving their all," said Peterson.

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The Green Party of California
http://www.cagreens.org
P.O. Box 2828, Sacramento, CA 95812
Phone: (916) 448-3437
gpca@greens.org