WASHINGTON - May 25 - This Memorial Day Weekend, Gold Star families whose loved ones died as a result of the war in Iraq, who are members of Military Families Speak Out's chapter Gold Star Families Speak Out, are available for interview.

President Bush said, in remarks at the National Restaurant Association Convention in Chicago on May 22, "...the hardest job of the President is to meet with families of the fallen. And it's a -- it's my duty. But almost to a person, they say, whatever you do, Mr. President, complete the mission, lay the foundation of peace so my child had not died in vain. And I give them that assurance every time I meet with them." In fact, many Gold Star families say otherwise.

"It serves no purpose to have more and more servicemen and women die in an unjust and unjustifiable war, and have more families experience the unbearable and unending pain that my family has experienced," explained Celeste Zappala, mother of Sgt. Sherwood Baker, the first Pennsylvania National Guardsman to die in combat since World War II. Sgt. Baker was killed in action in Baghdad on April 26, 2004 while guarding the Iraq Survey Group as they searched for non-existent weapons of mass destruction.

Elaine Johnson, who met with President Bush following the death of her son Darius Jennings on November 2, 2003 in Iraq and challenged him on his war policy, stated, "The best way to honor the memory of Darius and all of our loved ones is to end this war, bring our troops home now and take care of them when they get here."

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW:

Members of Military Families Speak Out's chapter Gold Star Families Speak Out whose loved ones have died as a result of the war in Iraq are available for interview over Memorial Day Weekend. To schedule an interview, contact Katya Kruglak, 703- 304-5075, or Nancy Lessin, 617-320-5301.

For more information:

Military Families Speak Out: http://www.mfso.org ; Gold Star Families Speak Out: http://www.gsfso.org

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