"Sacrifice in Iraq leads to visit with president"

This headline just rubs me the wrong way for some reason. maybe I'm just aggravated about Him being here all too soon.

See, being a Gold Star mom has its perks.


Sacrifice in Iraq leads to visit with president
Servicemen's families will greet Bush on visit here

By MIKE BARBER
P-I REPORTER

When he arrives today in Seattle, President Bush will take time to honor two local families who have sacrificed much.

Sheryl Sheaffer of Issaquah, whose three soldier sons, and only children, now serve in the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan, will fulfill a longtime wish by joining the greeting party for Bush when Air Force One lands at Boeing Field.

Brian and Shellie Starr of Snohomish, meanwhile, have been invited by the White House to share a lengthier, private session with the president here. Their son, Marine Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr, was killed in Iraq on Memorial Day last year. A last letter Starr wrote to his fiancée, intended to be found on his computer should he die, was shared by the family with the Seattle P-I and eventually came to Bush's attention. The president was visibly emotional as he quoted from it in a speech at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., on Nov. 30.

"I've always dreamed of meeting him," said Sheaffer, who also is active with her mom, Nadine Gulit, in founding Operation Support Our Troops, which is known for mailing care packages to troops overseas. "I admire his steadfastness and backbone and consistency and giving our soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen what they need to win," says Sheaffer, who keeps a "Mother's Journal" on the Web. "I am angry at a Congress that voted to give him the authority for the war and now backs away from it," she says. "You can't blame somebody else for a decision two-thirds of them were part of.

"That takes support away from my sons. And that's personal to me -- don't ever back away from those kids over there."

<snip>

Starr said his family was asked to bring photos. Bush wants to learn as much as he can about their son. While Brian and Shellie, like many close-knit couples, have differing opinions about the war in Iraq -- Brian favoring, Shellie skeptical -- the two set them aside out of respect for their son and in appreciation of Bush's gesture.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/274212_iraqmoms16.html

families wouldn't be hearing from this schmuck. Asking them to bring photos so he can learn all about these poor dead servicepeople. Excuse me, but that's so fraudulent and cynical that it makes me sick. He no more gives a shit about those people then he does anyone who isn't a Pioneer or a Ranger.

because he required a sacrifice. He needed to be able to see and smell the blood and the death that has been offered up in his name...