Speech on Saturday May 26, 2007 "Eyes Wide Open"

My name is Katy Scott and I am very honored to be a part of Chicago’s Memorial Day Observances and to speak at the final full exhibit of “Eyes Wide Open”

I have walked among the boots of our combat deaths in Chicago, Milwaukee, on the Mall in Washington DC at this time last year, and now today with you in Chicago. Chicago was the original site for Eyes Wide Open and now is the final site for the complete display.

Last May I was completing my 8 months at Walter Reed with my son Capt. Jason Scott who had been injured in Iraq October 2005. Jason was medically retired from the US Army in Nov of 2006 after a year and three weeks at WR. He now resides in Florida with Jodi his very courageous and loving girlfriend.

In May 2006 I attended the burial of Alex, only child and son of another MFSO mother at Arlington. Gilda lovingly attended to Jason in those first critical weeks at WR when he needed someone at his side 24/7.

On this weekend a year ago
I attended the memorial for Ken,
friend of Jason’s from Tank Commander school
who had been killed in Iraq in 2004 and
whose mother holds a memorial service for him each year on memorial day.
She says,” there is no other place I want or could be each Memorial Day”
except with her son, her only child, at his Arlington grave site.

I have been a member of Military Families Speak Out since Jason joined the
Army in 2002. MFSO has asked me to speak on taking care of our soldiers after they return to the US. I cannot describe the extent of our soldiers' needs adequately. I will read a poem that challenges our hearts and souls.

WHY I FIGHT FOR PEACE by Cloy Richards USMC

Because I can't forget no matter how hard I try.
They told us we were taking out advancing Iraqi forces,
But when we went to check out the bodies
they were nothing but women and children
desperately fleeing their homes because
they wanted to get out of the city
before we attacked in the morning.

Because my little brother, who is my job to protect,
decided to join the California National Guard
to get some money for college and
they promised he wouldn't go to Iraq.
instead three months after enlisting
he was sent to Iraq for one year.

Since he has been home for the last six months,
he refuses to talk to anyone, he lives by himself.
the only person he associates with is a friend of his,
the one other man out of his squad of thirteen men
who made it home alive.

He called me a few weeks ago for the first time
And told me he's having nightmares.
I asked what they were about and
He said they're about picking up the pieces
Of his fellow soldiers after a car bomb hit them.

Because every single one of the Marines I served with,
the really brave warriors, even when some friends and people
they looked up to got killed or lost an arm or leg,
they wouldn't cry, they just kept fighting.
They completed their mission.

Every one of them I have spoken to since we got home
has broken down crying in front of me,
saying all they can do since they got back
is bounce from job to job, drink and do drugs,
And contemplate suicide to end the pain.

Because I'm tired of drinking, bouncing from job to job
and contemplating suicide to end the pain.
Because every time I see a child,
I think of the thousands I've slaughtered.
Because every time I see a young soldier,
I think of the thousands Bush has slaughtered.

Because every time I look in the mirror
I see a casualty of the war.
Because I have a lot of lives I have to make up for,
the lives I have taken and
Because it's right.
That's why I fight.
Because of soldiers with wounds you can't see.

Our soldiers are crying out . Their lives are in our hands. We the American people are responsible for unimaginable, unending suffering. We must ask forgiveness from our soldiers and do the work of healing and reconciliation with our brothers and sisters. They have returned to us from the Killing Fields of Iraq and Afghanistan.With our soldiers coming home wounded in their minds and souls, the Killing Fields are now here in Chicago and across America in towns large and small.

Take action, say “No” to the carnage and suffering caused by war.