Carlos Arredondo "I am proud to be an American citizen"

Man given citizenship because son killed in Iraq
By David Ertischek, Staff Writer

Carlos Arredondo came to America in 1980 after illegally crossing the Mexican border into Arizona on his way north from Costa Rica. And after being in the country that he calls home for 26 years, he is now a citizen of America after a Dec. 1 ceremony.

But while Arredondo can celebrate his citizenship and no longer fears deportation, gaining citizenship is bittersweet.

On Aug. 25, 2004, his son, Lance Corporal Alexander Arredondo of the Marines, was killed in action in Iraq, which was also Carlos’ birthday. And due to a 2004 law that President George W. Bush enacted, any parent who was not a citizen who has a child die as a serviceman automatically gets their citizenship.

“Not like I wanted to be in that position because of my son,” said Arredondo. “But we do the best we can.”

On his 44th birthday, after being confronted with the loss of his son, Carlos set fire to a U.S. Marine van and himself. He sustained burns to 26 percent of his body; he has since apologized in person to the USMC Casualty Assistance Team.

But while Arredondo continues to mourn for the loss of his firstborn having started the nonprofit group People United for Peace, he is happy to be an American citizen.

“It gave me more security for me to be free in this country because being an immigrant, legal or illegal, there is more risk with the freedom of speech or in the situation where I am in because of the situation with my son,” said Arredondo, who has become a very outspoken public critic of the Iraq war. Arredondo often attends peace vigils around the area against the war. “People can walk up to me and get upset with me and that can cause a difficult situation. People could get very upset with me and maybe even cause deportation,” he said.

But Arredondo said he is honoring his son and other fallen heroes from our American military branches.

“I’ve been in Boston for 26 years, in case you didn’t recognize my accent,” joked Arredondo, who also changed his official name to Alexander Brian Arredondo in honor of his two sons.

And Arredondo takes his duties to America very seriously. He volunteers for the American Red Cross as a Spanish-English translator. He is also starting to volunteer for the West Roxbury Veterans Hospital.

Arredondo said he had filed for American citizenship twice before, once in 1990, which he was rejected because he checked off an incorrect box. He also applied in 2001.

But he reached one of his goals in a ceremony in Lowell with 950 other new American citizens. Arredondo said there were more than 106 countries represented in that one ceremony as friends, family and other loved ones piled into the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

“It was emotional and also pretty much a dream come true for me,” said Carlos, whose wife, Melida, and son, Brian, were present for the ceremony. Carlos also was able to keep his citizenship in Costa Rica, where he was born.

But Carlos recalled why as a young man, he wanted to come to America.

“I wanted to pursue the dream that I had to have a better life and also to come to see this great country,” said Arredondo. “I wanted to be in this wonderful land. I learned about this man in Costa Rica in 1962, I was 2 years old. He was there with his wife before he got killed in Dallas. He said ‘Don’t ask what your country can do for you — but what you can do for your country’.”

Arredondo said his family adored President John F. Kennedy because JFK set up a program in Costa Rica called An Answer for Progress, which provided assistance to very poor people, like Carlos’ family.

He recalled how America sent food and medical reinforcements a mere two days after the Racu volcano erupted in 1962. He said America was the first country to assist.

“The beauty of this country, which is everywhere, the power of this country. We see it everywhere. The kindness we see it everywhere with people. I have been learning from them and volunteering with people,” said Arredondo. “The decisions that the people in this [Bush] administration make have nothing to do with the servicemen. I am proud to be an American citizen to honor this country and do the best that I can for this country.”

One Pissed Off Mom

Mom asks that wrenching war story end

By John Carlson / Des Moines Register

Norwalk, Ia. - You'd have to be the mother of a Marine or soldier to have any real idea what's going through Kimberly Downing's head.

She's spent too many months dreading a knock on the door from a military officer bringing the worst possible news. Or a phone call from a sympathetic sergeant telling her of another explosion - and another injury - to another child.

"My family has given enough to this war," said the 44-year-old Norwalk woman. "No more. They can't ask any more of us. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure my son isn't sent back over there again."

You've heard and read the stories of soldiers and Marines. This is a mom's war story.

In 2004, Kimberly's husband, Jeff, a member of the Marine Reserves, and her sons, Ryan and Justen, active-duty Marines, all were in Iraq at the same time.

Jeff, a Des Moines firefighter, made it home from that deployment without injury. Ryan, now 23, was caught in a hellish firefight in Ramadi in April of that year and wasn't so lucky.

"Ryan was shot in the leg," she said. "He still has shrapnel in the arm, neck and shoulder. He had a hearing loss. He recovered as much as he could, I guess. Now he's back over there. And he's been wounded again."

Justen, now 21, was injured by an improvised explosive device attack in that first deployment.

"He said he thought he was dead after that one," Kimberly said. "He was back over there in 2005, and was in a Humvee accident. He had a head injury and was hospitalized for three days."

Then came word Justen has been ordered on a third seven-month deployment to Iraq and is scheduled to leave with his unit early next year.

This woman, who describes herself as a "pissed-off mom," vows to make sure it doesn't happen.

She's just one woman trying to influence a sprawling military bureaucracy to do what she believes is the right thing for her family. The way Kimberly sees it, she has no choice.

"This is something I have to do," she said, sitting on the edge of a couch in the family's comfortable new home south of Norwalk. "I'm not anti-military, and I'm proud of my husband and sons and their service. I'm not political. I'm not going to stand in front of the White House with a sign, screaming at the president. I just know that sending Justen back over there is morally wrong."

She also knows that her sons enlisted together of their own free will, without coercion, in July 2003. Yes, it was over her objections - the truth is, she begged them not to go - but they wouldn't listen. They'd played football and wrestled in school. They had jobs. And the way they saw it, they had a duty.

"They both said, 'Mom, this is something we have to do.' They knew they'd be sent to Iraq, but they were ready to go. They'd been obsessed with the Marine Corps since they were little boys. I thought they'd outgrown it, until that master gunnery sergeant sat in my living room and they signed the papers. A year later, my sons and Jeff were all in Iraq."

Kimberly met Jeff in her native California when Jeff was stationed there as an active-duty Marine. He adopted Ryan and Justen after their marriage 13 years ago. He became a Marine Corps reservist, but left the service when his enlistment ended after returning from Iraq.

"He knew I couldn't deal with three of them in Iraq again," said Kimberly. "... People ask me how I function. Sometimes I don't function. I don't sleep. I don't like to leave the house. Then I think I can't sit here anymore."

Not that she expects most people to understand what it's like, sitting at home with her husband and their 11-year-old daughter, Megan, worrying about her boys.

It may even be worse when she hears the details.

"You want to know what it's like? Here's the report I got last week from a sergeant who called to tell me Ryan had been wounded again and was in a military hospital. His unit was under heavy attack. He was shooting out the top of a Humvee. A tank (American) was behind them. The tank fired a round over the Humvee and he was injured. Two days before that he was shot in the head. The helmet kept it from killing him, but he was knocked out. He's had two head traumas in a week's time. He only got back over there a month ago."

Kimberly talked to Ryan on the phone, and he said he's doing OK.

"He told me, 'Hey, at least I'm talking to you, Mom.' He should be back with his unit now. He already had two Purple Hearts before this last thing. I asked the sergeant who called to tell me Ryan was hurt, 'How many times do you have to get hurt to get out of that place?' He said, 'A lot.' "

The family has no word on when Ryan will be home. He originally was told his unit would do a "quick in and out" stay of a just few weeks. There's talk now it will be an open-ended deployment.

Justen is another matter. He and Ryan are both due for discharge from active duty in July, but his scheduled third deployment is to begin in February. Which would leave him in Iraq until September if he is required to stay for the full tour.

"Justen has been injured twice. He has a Purple Heart. He knows I don't want him to go back. They both know it. ... Look, I don't want them out of the Marines before their enlistment is up. I know I can't get Ryan home, and I don't know what chance I have to keep Justen from going. But I'm not going to stop trying. Every male in this family has been to Iraq. ... How much are we supposed to give for this war?"

She has written to Iowa's Sen. Tom Harkin for help, and a staffer in his office has asked for more information.

Kimberly is hopeful, but she knows the Marine Corps doesn't base its duty assignments on the outrage of a mom in Iowa.

"I'm just a little person saying what I think needs to be said. I'll get down on my knees and beg somebody if that's what it takes. I just want somebody to do the right thing. My family has given way more than it's share."

Congratulations Carlos !!!

I'm very happy for you!
May we all have peace inside us!
Cindy


Man who set himself ablaze after son died in Iraq becomes citizen

By David Weber / Associated Press

LOWELL, Mass.— Two years ago, Carlos Arredondo tried to destroy a military van and set himself on fire in his grief over the news that his son, a Marine, had been killed in Iraq.

On Tuesday, Arredondo became a citizen of the country his son died fighting for, and used his new status in a protest, peaceful this time, of the war his son died in.

"Enough! Bring the troops home now!" read the sign Arredondo held aloft moments after he and 933 other immigrants were sworn as citizens in a ceremony at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

"Now I can use my First Amendment to say what I need to say," he said afterward. "Now I can express myself without being afraid of being deported."

In August 2004, Arredondo was celebrating his 44th birthday and awaiting a phone call from Alexander, his oldest son, when a Marine Corps van pulled up in front of his house in Hollywood, Fla. The officers were there to deliver the news that 20-year-old son was dead.

At first, Arredondo would not believe it, convinced that his son, a practical joker, would dart out from behind the van and wrap him in a hug.

When Arredondo realized it was no joke, he lost it.

He walked into his garage and grabbed a five gallon can of gasoline, a five-pound hammer and a propane torch, and headed for the van. Once inside he began destroying everything with the hammer, he recalled Tuesday.

"I was screaming and yelling," he said. "I splashed gasoline all over the van and got some on myself. My mother was trying to pull me out of the van when I hit the button on the torch."

The explosion of the gas fumes threw Arredondo out of the van, and he was badly burned.

Arredondo, a native of Costa Rica, recovered from his injuries, and later met with the Marines to apologize.

He also moved to Boston to be closer to his son, Brian, 19, and prepared to become a U.S. citizen.

"This is a way for me to honor my sons," Arredondo said about his passage into citizenship.

On Tuesday, Arredondo, 46, was among the immigrants representing 106 countries who became new United States citizens. With his son Brian at his side, Arredondo held up a large photograph of his two sons as Rep. Marty Meehan thanked him for his son's sacrifice.

He held up his protest sign minutes later, as he left the building.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mark Wolf, who issued the citizenship oath, asked the applicants to stand as he called the names of each of their home countries. Once they all were standing, the oath of allegiance was administered. The applicants erupted in cheers and waved tiny American flags when Wolf declared them citizens.

"You're coming here has sent us each a message," Wolf said. "You remind us that despite its imperfections, the United States remains special to people throughout the world. We thank you for delivering this message."

Carlos Arredondo Getting His Citizenship

Congratulations my friend Carlos. Your dream is coming true. You are an asset to our country.

Gold Star Father Becomes US Citizen on 12/12/06

Five and one half years after application for citizenship

People United for Peace

Boston, Massachusetts - Carlos Arredondo of Roslindale, MA on Friday, December 1, 2006, learned that he would be granted his US citizenship on 12/12/06 at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. Previously denied his application for citizenship, he did not ascertain the reason via the appeal process at that time. Arredondo first entered the United States via the Mexico -- Arizona border in January of 1980. He last filed for citizenship in March of 2001.

Known for his very public grief response, Arredondo learned that Lcpl. Alexander Arredondo, USMC was killed in action on August 25, 2004, his 44th birthday. When informed of his son's death, he set fire to a US Marine van and himself. No charges were filed against him. Following physical recuperation from burns sustained on 26% of his body; Arredondo apologized in person to the USMC Casualty Assistance Team.

In July of 2006, Arredondo traveled to Camp Pendleton, California to meet with twenty Marines who had served with his son in Iraq. He was provided an original of the bronze star commendation that Alex received for valor. Together Marines and father shared memories of Alex, discussed how Alex was killed and mourned their great loss.

Since Alex's death, Arredondo has reached out to others who have lost their military family members. He has spoken publicly in English and Spanish on the topics of PTSD impacting military families and the story of Alex's life and death. He is a volunteer for the West Roxbury Veteran's Administration hospital where he has met troops and their families and the American Red Cross disaster response team. He previously volunteered for the Boston Shelter for Homeless Veterans.

Carlos Arredondo is married to Mélida Arredondo and has one surviving son, Brian Luis Arredondo. Prior to Alex's death, he had requested as part of his citizenship application to change his formal name to Alexander Brian Arredondo in honor of his two sons who he refers to as his "American Dream."

He is co-founder of People United for Peace, A Gold Star Family Project, a member of Gold Star Families Speak Out and Gold Star Families for Peace. He and his wife have established two memorial scholarships in Alex's name at the Blue Hills Regional Technical High School located in Canton and Sacred Heart School located in Roslindale.

Sharon Hughes and her followers on the other side of the divide

December 6, 2006 UPDATE: (to a post from last April)

It came to my attention Sharon Hughes has added this post to her website under unbelievable quotes and linked this page to your site below. I guess she didn't like what I had to say about her views on killing so many people because you’re afraid of them. OR you "think" they were the ones who did a crime on nine eleven.

Sharon, where's the plane?

You have bought the story hook, line and sinker. I'm glad your sinker isn't big enough to bring our country lower than it has already fallen. Our last elections proved that. But still, there are the people who listen to your station and believe you. People who are so selfish, so power hungry, people living is so much fear that you have to kill because you think this action of death is protecting you.

I had to shake my head when I looked at your poll results on your website. I used to think we were all the same. We all wanted the best for all our neighbors. Years ago I found out about your kind and started this blog Divided We Stand. Just like the skin heads that are so full of hate they want to kill anyone who doesn't have white skin. I don't have to like them but I understand their right to exist. It doesn't mean I agree with them or wish they weren’t that way, but they are. Your 31% is here and we have to live with you. And I've learned, you will never change. Just like the skin heads.

I only wish others actions wouldn't have reactions to me and my children. But their actions will have reactions on us in our future.

My hope is in speaking to the people who cross my path and asking them if they vote. When we start talking about our countries actions I hear the same things I feel. We only have 30% vote in most of our elections. Imagine if everyone voted and we the people did take control of our country, we would have never done the things we have done in the past few years. Kill so many people while taking our own freedoms away at home. People are waking up, we are speaking to one another. We will not let Sharons 31% (which would be smaller if people did get involved) take our country to places we should not be...torture.

May peace be - inside all of us,
Cindy

*********************************************
original post

The truth is coming out. Some people refuse to see the truth just like they refuse to accept the knowledge that 9/11 had nothing to do with Iraq.

War in Iraq - Who Is Telling the Truth? By Sharon Hughes

The American people have heard so many conflicting stories about the attitudes of the Iraqi people towards America, as well as our soliders' attitudes about the war effort, that reporting such stories has become a battleground in and of itself.

There is no doubt that negative feedback about the war is emphasized by the mainstream media which, while accusing legislators of politicizing the war, in fact are as guilty, if not more, of doing the same. Case in point: Cindy Sheehan. Who would argue that the air and print time given to this anti- war poster-mom of the left wasn't exhaustive? Yet hardly a mention has been given to the Blue Star Moms and others who have also lost sons in the war, and have something to say, but from a different point of view than Sheehan. Let's not forget, the media made Cindy Sheehan.

The headlines of major print media, especially online where articles are grouped by topic, could be enough to make the less informed think we are losing the war, that the effort and sacrifice paid already by our troops have been in vain. However, when you read the stories themselves, very often there's little substance to support the headline accusations, once you get past the spin.

That's why I like to read and hear it from the Iraqi people, our soldiers, and others who are not interested in politicizing the war.

I had to write her a letter:
(hey, she asked for it. Send yours Contact: sharon@changingworldviews.com )

Please tell me what 9/11 had to do with Iraq? NOTHING

Our BRAVE YOUNG HERO'S are being used as PAWNS for the love of power and money. I support the troops. I support them so much I want to save their lives by bringing them home.

Oh, I know I'll get a ton of mail for saying these things from those who disagree. But I comfort myself with the knowledge that the vast majority of Americans wish there was no such thing as war, but understand the consequences of not standing up to the bullies of the world. If you can say anything about America, you can say this...we will not be beaten in the school yard of the world.

Maybe you will get a lot of mail because your on the wrong side of the truth. The majority of Americans know this so called war is wrong and we don't want the torture that goes along with it. We don't like our freedom taken away by setting up free speach zones, spying on people that disagree while our military think they are fighting to peserve our freedom at home. The school yard bullies of the world reside in the White House. Our actions have reactions. You can't bully other humans like yourself without breeding so much hate in them they want to fight you back...and BOOM, we're all gone. Killing begets more killing...when will your kind ever learn?

Stop spreading and living in fear, for all our sake.

May PEACE be inside all of us
Cindy