WASHINGTON - October 25 - During his news conference today, President Bush spoke about the relatives of American soldiers who have died in Iraq. "I've met too many wives and husbands who've lost their partners in life, too many children who won't ever see their mom and dad again," Bush said. "I owe it to them and to the families who still have loved ones in harm's way to ensure that their sacrifices are not in vain."

Elaine Johnson and Celeste Zappala each lost a son to the war in Iraq. Both women are active with Gold Star Families Speak Out. They are available for interviews about President Bush's stance on the war.

Interviews with other relatives of American soldiers who served in Iraq can be arranged with the help of Nancy Lessin from Military Families Speak Out.

ELAINE JOHNSON, tomel22@aol.com, Johnson is the mother of Darius Jennings, who died in Iraq on November 2, 2003.

CELESTE ZAPPALA, czappala1@yahoo.com, http://gsfso.org, Zappala is the 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.

NANCY LESSIN, mfso@mfso.com, http://mfso.org, Lessin is co-founder of Military Families Speak Out and can help arrange interviews with family members of military personnel who are stationed in Iraq, including personnel who have been caught up in the "backdoor draft."

For more information, contact at the Institute for Public Accuracy: Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167 _____________

###