News Releases

June 11, 2010

Families United Responds to Investigation at Arlington National Cemetery

Washington, DC – Brian Wise, Executive Director of Families United, the nation’s largest military family organization, released the following statement in regards to the investigation at Arlington National Cemetery.

“We have worked with the management of Arlington National Cemetery for years and they have always treated our fallen Heroes with the utmost respect and dignity. The care with which they lay to rest our nation’s Fallen has always been exemplary. We applaud the Department of the Army, Arlington National Cemetery and especially Secretary McHugh for his work to correct the administrative issues that have unfortunately occurred at the cemetery and we commend the dedication and professionalism that we have encountered with the employees, management, and leadership of Arlington National Cemetery. READ MORE

March 27, 2010

Families United Hosts "Camp Desert Kids" at Fort Bragg

Families United, the nation’s largest military family organization serving America’s Blue and Gold Star families, hosts “Camp Desert Kids” today, an educational event for children with a parent currently deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. READ MORE

NOVEMBER 5, 2009

Families United Statement Regarding Shooting at Fort Hood

Washington, DC—Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission, the nation’s largest military family organization, released the following statement regarding the breaking news in Ft. Hood, Texas.

“Families United is deeply saddened by this tragic shooting and loss of life at Fort Hood, Texas. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the fallen, the Fort Hood community, and all military families. Families United is following the developments of this tragedy and working to ensure that the needs of our troops in the community as well as their families are being met.”

September 24, 2009

Families United Thanks Sponsors of Weekend of Remembrance
Washington, D.C. –– Families United For Our Troops would like to thank the following organizations for their overwhelming generosity and support of the Weekend of Remembrance. Held this weekend in Washington, DC, the Weekend of Remembrance is a two-day event bringing together the families of America’s fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan to honor those who have died in service to their country and acknowledge the sacrifice of the families they left behind. This is the largest gathering of Gold Star families in the country and without the support of the following organizations this important weekend would not be possible.

September 10, 2009
Families United Statement on 9/11 Anniversary
Washington, DC – Brian Wise, Executive Director of Families United For Our Troops and Their Mission, the nation’s largest military family organization, released the following statement concerning the eighth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

September 4, 2009
Open Letter To AP’s CEO: Take Offensive Photo of Dying Marine Off AP Newswire
Washington, DC – Merrilee Carlson, President of Families United For Our Troops and Their Mission, the nation’s largest military family organization, sent the following letter to Associated Press’ CEO Thomas Curley regarding AP’s decision to publish a photo of Lance Cpl. Joshua M. Bernard of New Portland, Maine, in his final moments of life. Lance Cpl Bernard was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in a Taliban ambush August 14 in Helmand province of southern Afghanistan. Lance Cpl Bernard’s father had asked the Associated Press to not publish the image of his dying son.

September 4, 2009
Families United Response to AP’s Release of U.S. Marine Death Photo

Families United Response to AP’s Release of U.S. Marine Death Photo
Nation’s Largest Military Family Organization Asks News Organizations to Refrain from Using Gruesome Image of Fallen Hero

August 13, 2009
Welcome Home Captain Speicher
Washington, DC – Families United For Our Troops and Their Mission, the nation’s largest military family organization, released the following statement on the news that the remains of Captain Michael "Scott" Speicher, a US pilot shot down over Iraq in the Gulf War in 1991, have been found in the desert in Iraq.

July 22, 2009
Families United Statement Regarding Time of Remembrance Date Change

Washington, DC –Families United For Our Troops and Their Mission, the nation’s largest military family organization, released the following statement concerning the Time of Remembrance date change.
Read More

July 14, 2009
Families United Testifies On Capitol Hill

Today, Katie Glenn, Families United’s Military Family Fellow, testified at a Congressional hearing about her life as a military child. Below is her emotional opening statement.

Testimony from Katie Glenn
Military Family Fellow For Families United
July 14, 2009

July 18, 2009

Families United Statement On ACLU Joining Military Funeral Protest Ban

Washington, DC – Merrilee Carlson, President of Families United For Our Troops and Their Mission, the nation’s largest military family organization, released the following statement concerning the ACLU joining Westboro Baptist Church and founder Fred Phelps to sue Maplewood, Missouri’s funeral protest ban.

July 1, 2009
Families United Introduces Military Kids Blog
Washington, DC – Today Families United For Our Troops and Their Mission, a national military family organization, unveiled their new blog specifically for military children. The blog (http://www.militarykidsblog.com) provides a place for military kids young and old to discuss their experiences.

june 5, 2009
Families United Statement on D-Day
Washington, DC – Merrilee Carlson, President of Families United For Our Troops and Their Mission, the nation’s largest military family organization, released the following statement concerning tomorrow’s 65th anniversary of D-Day.

May 12, 2009
Families United Sponsors Red Carpet Premiere at GI Film Festival

Washington, DC – Families United For Our Troops and Their Mission is the proud title sponsor for the red carpet premiere of the HBO film "Taking Chance" on Friday at the GI Film Festival in Washington, DC. The movie, which stars Kevin Bacon, chronicles the emotional journey taken by Lt. Col. Michael Strobl as he escorts the body of a fallen Marine hero, Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, back to his hometown of Dubois, Wyoming.

march 19, 2009
Families United Statement on Six Year Anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom
Washington, DC – March 19, 2009 – Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission released the following statement regarding the six year anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom

“Tomorrow’s anniversary should be a day of pride for all Americans. It is a day to celebrate the bravery of our troops and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect this nation and expand freedom to the oppressed. Our men and women in uniform have fought tirelessly to make Iraq a nation that is free, stable and an ally in the War on Terrorism.

february 18, 2009
Majority of Military Families Do Not Approve of Overturning Ban on Photos of Flag-Draped Caskets at Dover

Washington, DC – February 18, 2009 –Gold Star military families from across America flooded the office of Families United to voice their opinions on the recently announced review that could lead to overturning the 18-year ban on publishing photos of flag-draped transfer cases at Dover Air Force base. The overwhelming number of responses stemmed from an Action Alert distributed via email Friday by Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission asking family members of fallen heroes to voice their opinion on the current debate on lifting the ban.

january 7, 2009

Statement Regarding "John Doe" Gold Star Family Letters

Washington, DC – January 7, 2009 – Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission released the following statement in response to a mailing distributed Monday by the U.S. Army to all Gold Star families (families who have lost a loved one in combat). The mailing is erroneously addressed to “John Doe.”