Video Vets Project

I work with many organizations in the peace community to speak about this war and to spread the message "Bring Them Home Now and Take very good care of them when they get here". I always speak for Gold Star Families Speak Out, a chapter of Military Families Speak Out, of which I am on the national board of directors.

I have worked with AFSC, American Friends Service Committee, who sponsors Eyes Wide Open, the display of empty combat boots. I work with our local peace groups, Mountain View Voices for Peace, Los Altos Voice for Peace and Peninsula Peace & Justice. I have participated at rallies for United for Peace & Justice and many other organizations. Members and leaders of these organizations work tirelessly for peace and have all welcomed me to speak about my son and my experience.

Some organizations stray from my main message of Bring Them Home Now and I always think long and hard about what my message is and if an organization has the same message. I try to be aware of the dynamics at any rally and make sure it will be safe to tell Ken's and my story. If, when I speak, one person get's it, the cost of this war, then I have done my job. I will continue to tell our story until they all come home.

There are many good organizations and good people who are working very hard for peace and while we may not always all be totally aligned; our message is getting to Washington and even many local legislators.

With the able assistance of Videographer, Stephen Conway and his amazing talent, I recently recorded a video as part of a project for MoveOn (see below). Here's how MoveOn describes the Video Vets project:

VideoVets: Bring Our Troops Home is an important new project that will use the power of internet video to help spread the stories that folks need to hear most: the truth about how veterans and military families feel about the war and why we need to bring our troops home safely and quickly.

Every day at MoveOn we get letters from military families and veterans who’re outraged that the president hides behind the troops to justify his policy—a policy that’s leaving tens of thousands of them stranded in the middle of an unwinnable civil war. So we teamed up with our friends at VoteVets.org to give these folks a platform to speak out.

You watch the videos and tell us what you think. We’ll take the one you select and Academy Award winning director Oliver Stone will turn it into a TV ad—spreading this message even further. Believe us, once you get started watching these you won’t be able to stop. You have until midnight (Pacific Time), April 25th, to log your ratings.


Karen Meredith



Watch this video and vote for your favorite

Here are some of the comments that MoveOn forwarded to me:

Paul B. Buffalo, NY
Dear Karen, I was very moved by your video. I am so sorry for your loss. My son is Sgt John Bruhns, who also made a video. Your message is what has been in my heart since day one of the Iraq war. I, too was against this war from the moment it began, and I listened to your message, I so vividly remembered those nights, praying, not knowing, crying, and promising God anything to just keep my son alive. My heart is heavy with grief for you and the other mothers who lost sons and daughters. I want to thank you for your powerful and eloquent message.

Esther M. Queens NY
Thank you for that incredible video and for sharing your story. It takes great courage to speak up. I am sorry for your loss. I hope that all the military mothers can have the strength and resolve you seem to have, and tell this administration- no more.

Bonnie B. Portland, ME
Dear Karen, I am so sorry for the loss of your son. Thank you for speaking out. We lost our niece, Capt. Jen Harris, USMC, on Feb. 7, 2007. It was her third tour and she was due to finally come home the week her helicopter was shot down over Baghdad. The pain to our family, and thousands of other families, American and Iraqi, is indescribable as you well know. I can't believe what our government has done. I pray that my sister finds the strength to eventually speak out as you have done so eloquently. Peace to you, Karen, and to all of us - especially our brave and honorable soldiers.

Katherine B. Brooklyn, NY
Dear Ms. Meredith, I feel compelled to let you know how very moved I was by your remarkable grace and eloquence in telling this story. I am so very sorry for your loss, so thankful to you for sharing it.

Benjamin P., Ellicott City, MD
I really thought your video was moving. And I am really thinking a lot about your tragic loss. I hope no other mothers have to suffer like this. God bless you.

John L. Hamlet, IN
I am a former marine Sgt. who served during the Viet Nam war with honor. When i saw your video clip. it brought back so many memories of what the Viet Nam war did to our young men and women of that time area. So many young people died for a worthless war. It’s just like this war is in Iraq. I cry as i watch you kneel down by your son’s grave It reminds me of all the mothers before you who lost a son or daughter to war. This war in Iraq is so much like Viet Nam was and this government of our’s is doing the same thing all over again. We haven’t learned at all from our mistakes of the past. GOD BLESS you for standing up for what is right by bringing an end to this damn war. I am sure if your son is watching from above he’s saying thank you mom. And I as a former marine Sgt thank you for your stand to help stop the war in Iraq. I am so sorry for your loss.

Dan M. Oakland CA
Dear Karen: i watched several of these videos for moveon, and your interview is by far the most thoughtful and moving. i feel for your loss and cried for the first time since i can remember.

Ann M., Phoenicia, NY
Thank you for sharing your story—I m so sorry for your loss.

Christine K., Claremont, CA
Karen - I am extremely sorry for your loss but want to thank you for your willingness to share your story so publicly. Hopefully something better can come of that by helping to bring the troops home!

John C., Miami FL
I just watched your video. I liked it a lot and gave it a very good rating. Thanks for making it. I admire you for that (and I'm sure a lot of other people will too).

Aisha K. Lawrenceville GA God Bless You. I wish that more mothers would be as courageous as you to help end this fruitless war.

Susan B. Harrisonburg, VA
Thanks you so much for making this message to bring our troops home. I cried so hard when I heard your message. I am a mother of two sons and I cannot image what you are going through. My heart goes out to you and my prayers are with you.