In the wake of Georgia Stillwell's story, I got the story below from a mother whose son returned home from Iraq last year in a box. There are so many stories and so little simple human compassion! This is not a terrorist who deserves to have a wall of security guards and police around her. This is a grieving mother seeking condolences from those who are responsible for her loss.

I will be HEARD!

My son Steven Sirko died in Iraq on April 17, 2005. It has been 1 year, 2 months and 18 days since the last time I saw my sons face. I have not looked into his eyes - sky blue eyes - for 1 year, 5 months and 18 days, for the last time I saw that beautiful face, his eyes were closed. He was dead. I stroked his hair, I kissed his face, I held him as closely as I could. I was one of the lucky parents - his casket was open. But on the other hand, I have to face reality - I know he is gone, I cannot pretend he is on a secret mission, and I have been lied to to keep his "cover" quiet - not like some parents who have the closed casket, - "NOT VIEWABLE" - and can continue to pretend and tell themselves it really wasn't their child in that metal box.

I still cannot sleep, cannot eat, cannot have peace. I was raised knowing I have a soul. I did not know my own soul. I could not taste it, feel it, touch it, or hear it, but nevertheless I was quite sure I had one, or so I thought. The morning of April 17th, 2005, it was confirmed I did have a soul. I know for sure I had a soul, because after receiving the news that my son was dead, my soul left my body. It has never returned.

I had been against the war and this administration from the beginning. When Steven enlisted, his dad and I were angry with him. His dad and I both talked to him long and hard about not going into the military, not because it was not honorable to enlist but because this administration was not honorable and had already invaded Iraq. Steven, being 18 years old, had been "taken in" by a recruiter and told, "This Iraq thing will be over before you're out of AIT." We knew better.

We got over our anger and it turned to fear.

We supported Steven; we were proud of him, in spite of his stupidy. He had tried to do the right thing. He was so proud of himself, too. He excelled in boot camp, he excelled at AIT, he was a medic before he turned 19 years old. We made sure we were at his boot camp graduation and then went to Ft. Sam, Houston for his AIT graduation. Our son was still not a man - just a kid in an Army uniform. Our son, who should have been vacationing at the beach with his buddies this summer, now lays at Oakwood Cemetery in Statesvile, NC. That's where he was on his 21st birthday, too.

I have waited for someone from the government to contact me - a letter, a phone call, anything. It has been 1 year, 2 months and 18 days, and I have had one letter 10 weeks after his funeral from Virginia Foxx, Representative to the US House from North Carolina, and one letter from a Congressman from Indiana. The Representative from Indiana stated in the letter that he had addressed the House concerning Steven and that the statement was included in his letter, but unfortunately, someone forgot to enclose the statement - and my name was spelled wrong. How could they do this? How could they be so careless? It hurt so badly that they did not care enough to at least get my name right. How could Steven have been so unimportant? You see, he was of the most importance to me.

Now, I have waited long enough. I have given the administration plenty of time to tell me how sorry they are that my son is dead, so I am going to DC with my friend Georgia Stillwell for Operation House Call. I will visit the offices of every Senator possible. I have been told by several Senators' offices that I am not a constituent - that my son did not fight and die for North Carolina, or Georgia, or New York. No, he fought and died for this administration, and they WILL see me. They voted to send these troops - they will see and hear the aftermath.

Just a footnote: My son was returned to me from Iraq on a commercial air craft as cargo; his plane landed at 4:45p.m., April 21, 2005, at Charlotte Douglas Airport, Charlotte, NC. Four hours later, 8:45pm - four hours after the animals, luggage, and cargo had been unloaded - the aircraft was parked and Steven remained in the belly of the plane until after dark. His body was unloaded by airport personal. Is this adminisration ashamed of what they have done? Are they ashamed of Steven? I am disgusted by this administation.

I will not stand down until this administration stands up.... I will be SEEN.... I will be HEARD.... I will have have ANSWERS.

Summer Lipford, Proud Mother of PFC Steven F. Sirko
Needlessly taken from my life on April 17th, 2005
Member, Gold Star Families Speak Out and Military Families Speak Out