Mar 19, 2008 5:28 pm US/Eastern
Local Grannies Protest Iraq War
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
The call themselves the Granny Peace Brigade and on Wednesday, the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War, they used clothes pins and "dirty laundry" to send the message that the war should be washed out.
"My question is: well then how much long are our people going to be dying in Iraq," Celeste Zappala said.
Celeste Zappala has been at the fore-front of peace rallies since her son Pennsylvania National Guardsmen Sherwood Baker was killed in Iraq in 2004.
Zappala said while she will never forget the sacrifice her son made serving his country.
"Nothing brings back Sherwood," Celeste said.
The peace brigade has also traveled to Washington to lobby for better health care benefits for troops when they return home.
Iraq War veteran Nick Miccarelli is fighting for that too. He is running for the Pennsylvania State Legislature to make sure health care for veterans is more accessible.
"I feel that they deserve the best possible medical care, which they're not getting. They deserve the best possible mental healthcare which they're not getting and they deserve a job when they come home," Miccarelli said.
Sandra Krautheim agrees, that's why she sends these care packages - up to 50 a month- to troops overseas.
"As much as I can get into this bag will go and this is a must in each bag. This and my stationary is a must. I never let a package go out without writing something," Krautheim said.
Krautheim says it's like sending a little piece of home to soldiers.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
