Another requeset from a mother for a meeting
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
Department of Defense
Dear Secretary Rumsfeld,
I am requesting a meeting with you during the period of January
19 to 21.I, along with Cindy Sheehan and other family members of
fallen soldiers, would appreciate the opportunity to speak with
you about our grief of having lost our children, and our efforts
to prevent this same tragedy happening to others.
I am well aware that you do not welcome dissent or disagreement
with your policies. However, my son, Sgt. Sherwood Baker, the
first National Guardsman from Pennsylvania killed in combat
since 1945 was shipped to Iraq after minimal training, with some
equipment we had to purchase for him, to provide security for
the Iraq Survey Group as they fruitlessly searched for the
weapons of mass destruction. He died on April 26, 2004.He died
in his Humvee, which was later burned. So I do not know if it
was up-armored. I know little. No one has given us any reports.
But I am told he lived for two hours after an explosion in a
munitions factory impacted him. He leaves a 10 year old son, his
wife, two brothers and his Dad and I. He was a social worker. He
was a sweet and noble man.
During our very last conversation Sherwood told me he needed
food and water. I sent food to him but of course it arrived too
late. I called my Senators and the House Armed Services
committee to tell them about the shortages and about the
equipment we had to buy. No one cared. I called you office
recently too. I had to beg them to take my name.
Was my son important to any one besides us? Was he fodder?
I understand you do not want to discuss your decisions with
those of us who disagree with you, however, I am bound by the
love of my country and the honor of my son to try to meet with
you so that we as citizens of the same great Nation can begin a
dialogue that may yet lead to some truth about this war, and
perhaps even a resolution.
I anxiously look forward to meeting you soon.
Sincerely,
Celeste Zappala
Mother of Sgt. Sherwood Baker10-05-73 - 4-26-04
