Facing homelessness, loss of job, sleepless nights, crying, isolation and inability to concentrate. Sounds like the symptoms of a combat soldier. These are my symptoms as the Mother of an Iraq combat vet, a peace activist.

I recently met with Congressman Boswell (D-IA) on a bill being introduced to the house for suicide prevention for combat veterans. As I discussed Jason's story I realized that the general public does not understand the mental war a soldier fights once returning home, so I have decided to post some things here that Jason had discussed with me and other soldiers I have spoke to.

My son, Chris (age 21) was with the 1-13 Armor (3rd Brigade) of the 1st Armored Division out of Ft Riley and was deployed to Iraq twice over a two year period. He has YET to see the one year home between deployments. Two days ago we were informed that he would be attending training exercises in October as final preparations for deployment shortly thereafter.

We were excited to see the new movie, because we believe that most Americans have no idea what really goes on in Iraq and most of them believe that we are there because of 9/11. The movie was truly touching. Luigi and I were poking each other and shaking our heads a lot, because of the truths that the movie brings to light. We wish that every American had to watch it.

Kevin and Joyce Lucey of Belchertown, MA, whose son, Cpl. Jeffrey Lucey, served in the Marine Reserves during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. He began showing symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder within six months of his return from Iraq. On June 22, 2004 his father found him hanging by a garden hose from the rafters in their basement.

62 of our soldiers were killed in June,...no end in sight. 2,537 of our own have been killed, 18,490 wounded, unreported thousands continue to be evacuated due to illness or injury, and thousands more of our and Iraqi people are sentenced to die by the civil war of Administration occupation. Many soldiers are now in their 4th deployments to the endless war in Iraq,...no end in sight. Though election year politics are fostering token or temporary troop returns, the hidden harms and stopgap policies continue to destroy soldiers, families, and nation.

I sit on the grass next to Alex Carbonaro’s flags. There are two of them, one an American flag, the other a Texas flag. Much of his family still lives in Houston. It’s late in the afternoon, but I sit, and cry a little as I speak to him. His mom is my friend. I stop and get up to fetch water from the car. The little pot of live white daisies is wilting and dry.

So, It's Mother's Day. I'm here with my mom and even if you can't be with your daughters, I need you to listen to this story about this immorally wrong war. OK?

Our military families, Iraq veterans against the war who served nobly, and the awakened public conscience, will continue to remind the Congress of the Administration's contrived war and of the Congress' complicity in the unending occupation, killing, and destruction. The betrayal of our soldiers, families, and Constitution must not be continued by the Congress.

On Memorial Day, we raise our flags; we want to show our patriotism. We have a holiday from work and we have BBQ's with our friends and families. For some, it is a day to save some money at the mall- 15% off- Memorial Day sale! When we celebrate those events, we ignore the origins of Memorial Day.

There aren’t any representatives standing up for us right now. I think they’re all f**king criminal. I don’t know what to do; I don’t have the answer, but I know that what they’re doing now is feeding their own political agendas.

For some of us this Mother’s Day means something different. In my case, I now have the memory of the last time I held my eldest child. We were standing in line at the Airport. I can still feel his arms around me and his chin resting on my head. My eyes were full of tears and he tried to comfort me by saying he would call every chance he got. I tried desperately not to cry, I didn’t want him to feel sad. David already had enough on his plate. He was headed for Iraq.

I recently came into possession of my son’s Military foot locker. It contained all his gear from Iraq from camouflage to nerve gas antidote shots. In the very bottom in a plastic bag were his medals. Inside it I found several undeveloped instant cameras. I have enclosed a few photos..The first photo is of my son , I have never ever seen that look before in my son's eyes.

According to the calendar, March 20 is the first day of spring. The season evokes images of flowers, trees budding, and the songs of birds adding a pleasing melody to drift along in the warm air. But to the several people standing in a circle at the Dimond Court Plaza, the cold gray Juneau weather joined a flag-draped coffin at the foot of the stairs to reveal the solemn reason for their gathering.

As the partner of an Iraq War veteran, I pay attention to the news quite a bit. I watched the State of the Union last night hoping to hear some good news. Instead, most of what I heard made me frustrated and angry.

For three years our soldiers and nation have been betrayed, by the Administration and Congress, to the killing, maiming, and deceitful myth of the Iraq War. The State of the Union speech repeated the failed policies of unnecessary war, perpetual violence, and insane arrogance.

I am the mother of a soldier recently returned from Iraq and a member of MFSO. Here is a copy of the letter I sent to the editor of my local paper, The Idaho Statesman, in response to Bush's State of the Union address.