This article, "Group opposing Iraq conflict will host event today", by Molly DeWitt, was published in the Jacksonville Daily News, August 8, 28
Veterans who oppose the war are headed to Jacksonville to rock the troops and promote their cause.
Six members of the Iraq Veterans Against the War organization are bringing the State of the Union base tour to town today. They are traveling about 6,800 miles across the country in an RV and visiting eight military installations to host free concerts for service members and promote the organization's message.
The bases included in the tour were chosen because they are the most deployed in the nation, said Jason Hurt, former Army medic and IVAW member.
"We want to go to the troops and show them our support and that they have a support network with us," he said.
The group is hosting a free concert at 8 tonight for service members and veterans at Fast Freddie's on Lejeune Boulevard. The bands Rebel Inc. and Fall Victim will be performing at the event.
The purpose of the base tour is to get IVAW's message out and to inform veterans of benefits and services available to them as well as to tell active duty service members about GI rights, said Marlisa Grogan, former Marine captain and IVAW member.
"I look at it as an opportunity to be able to discuss the true state of our union with Marines and soldiers and be able to offer up this info that is beneficial," Grogan said.
While she served in the Marine Corps, Grogan was against the current occupation, which IVAW refers to as "an unjust, illegal and unwinnable occupation." She said she became a member of IVAW because the war is not benefiting the United States or its citizens.
"I look at it in a really concrete way. As an officer, as well as enlisted Marines, we are always charged with the promise to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and right now we're violating that Constitution, and that's my main concern," she said. "We're going against something that we promised: We're going against our oath. We're contradicting the Constitution in a way."
One of the organization's central messages is that veterans and active duty service members who do not support the war are not alone, said Jason Washburn, former Marine corporal, three time Iraq veteran and IVAW member.
"You are not alone," he said. "We've been through this. We've been through the things that they've been through ... are going through. Things that they're facing, whether it be not knowing the rights available to them, the fact that they can speak their opinion, ... or having trouble getting the proper mental health care - we've been through that too and we're here for them."
IVAW will also be hosting a free VA benefits workshop and barbecue at 1 p.m. Saturday at Alien Art Tattoo on Lejeune Boulevard. A veteran's service officer from the VA will be available to answer questions and provide information.
"We're all about making sure the troops get taken care of and get the benefits that they were promised and that they deserve, and a lot of times they're not and that's one of the main missions of this tour," Washburn said. "It's one of those injustices that we see. They should be getting taken care of but they're not. We're basically doing everything in our power to make that happen."
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