Casualties

The Peace Community of Santa Cruz County invites you to:
A Vigil in Honor of Father's Day 2009
On Friday June 19th, From 3-6PM
In front of the Military Recruiting Center*
2121 41st Avenue, in Capitola, CA 95010

The wars go on,
in Iraq AND in Afghanistan.

In Afghanistan, the troop levels continue to mount, and yet MANY EXPERTS who have served within the system are saying that there is NO military solution possible in Afghanistan.

Retired Army Colonel Ann Wright, who then became a career United States Diplomat and was assigned to set up the American Embassy in Afghanistan during October of 2001, has said:

"President Obama is making a huge mistake. There is no military solution available in Afghanistan. Only diplomacy, negotiation, and rebuilding the government and the infrastructure can bring resolution in Afghanistan."

PFC Matthew Wilson did not plan to re-enlist so he could be home
By Chad Livengood | News-Leader.com

After bouncing around in foster homes across southwest Missouri during the latter half of childhood, Pfc. Matthew W. Wilson wanted to be a family man.

He got married last August and in December, his new bride, Ashlynn, gave birth to a boy, Matthew Gunnar.

In January, the 19-year-old ammunition handler was deployed to Afghan-istan. He did not plan to re-enlist once he returned home, so he could be with his family full time, said his wife's relatives.

"When he formed a family with Ashlynn, that was the core of his existence," said Trish Gore, an aunt of Ashlynn's who lives in New Mexico.

But Wilson did not live to see his first Father's Day. He died Monday from wounds suffered from a roadside bomb explosion. Read more.