Two Gold Star Families Respond to Meghan McCain

The Hill reported on September 9 that:

John McCain's daughter Meghan said Tuesday that her family has a special understanding of the military, claiming that "no one knows what war is like other than my family."

McCain, appearing on NBC's "Today Show" to promote her recently released children's book on her father, said the experience of having the country at war is "just different when you have someone in the military," adding that "obviously, I think my father gets it more than anyone."

"I mean, my family — I have two brothers serving in the military. One is about to redeploy to Iraq," McCain said. "My father is obviously a famous war hero. No one knows what war is like other than my family, period."

Mélida Arredondo, a member of Military Families Speak Out (MFSO) and Gold Star Families Speak Out (GSFSO) responded:

Meghan McCain was born in 1984 and has the opportunity to speak to the media. My stepson Alex also was born in 1984. He cannot speak to the media. Why? Because he was deployed to Iraq twice and killed on his second tour. He returned from his first tour of duty very much impacted by PTSD yet returned to be with his troops to be at their side.

We also have a nephew who is currently serving in Afghanistan in the army.

My family has more than an idea of what war is like. We live the war everyday. When we have a holiday, there's a place set for Alex.

What my husband and I do not have an idea of is what it would be like to hold our 24 year old son in our arms again since he was killed at the age of 20. Period.

Lcpl. Alexander Arredondo, USMC was killed in action in An Najaf, Iraq on August 25, 2004.

MFSO and GSFSO members Joyce and Kevin Lucey are the parents of Lcpl. Jeffrey Lucey, USMC, who killed himself on June 22, 2004 after being denied treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder connected with his service in Iraq.  The Luceys write:

There are too many of us who know all too well what war is like - much more than the McCain family.

How many of us have buried our loves and part of our futures due to war ... have the McCains? How many of us have watched our lives forever changed so radically ... and for what? ... have the McCains? How many of us have watched our loved ones  suffer so much by wounds - be they physical or hidden - until they succumbed to their wounds ... have the McCains? How many of us have had faith in the VA and the Government to care for our troops and veterans only to see them turn their backs and abandon our heroes - leaving them in the battlefields of their ravished souls and minds - have the McCains? How many of us have looked to the veterans in Congress to take the lead to treat our veterans and military families as they claim that they should be ... regretfully this is where the McCains have failed this nation. Senator McCain abandoned our troops and veterans - voting time and time again against bills which would have given help to his less fortunate brothers and sisters in arms. God Knows how many lives he might have saved - if he truly had cared.

If he has done this to his own brothers and sisters in arms - My God! ... what would he do to our nation?

The past is the best predictor for the future.

We invite Meghan to spend some time with us in our world. We pray that she will accept.