WHO:
Two veterans from the group Iraq Veterans Against the War
Two mothers of Iraq Veterans, one of whom lost her son in the war
WHAT:
They will discuss, in an open public forum, the personal impact of the war and why they have taken a stand against the war.
WHEN:
Thursday, November 16, 2006
7:30 PM
WHERE:
College of Staten Island
The Center for the Arts
2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY
Speakers include:
1) Elaine Brower is a mother of a U.S. Marine who recently returned from Fallujah, Iraq. She is a member of Military Families Speak Out, Peace Action Staten Island and on the steering committee for World Can’t Wait,
Drive Out the Bush Regime. She has been interviewed by numerous new media outlets including “Good Morning America”, the New York Times, and Newsday.
2) Christian Bustamante enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1999. He had a profound change in his personal beliefs about war following September 11, 2001 and applied for contentious objector status. He was honorably discharged in September, 2004. He is a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War.
3) Josh Middleton served as a medic with infantry units in Korea and North Carolina. He participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom 2 and completed his enlistment in May of this year. He is a member of Iraq Veterans Against the War.
4) Celeste Zappala is the mother of PA National Guardsman Sgt Sherwood Baker, killed in Baghdad on 4/26/04. Since Sherwood’s death Celeste and her family have spoken out across the country, written articles and done interviews to try to bring an end to the war. They are members of Military Families Speak Out and Gold Star Families Speak Out.
The event is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the CSI Psychology Department Social Issues Committee, Peace Action Staten Island and the CSI Program Development Committee.
