April 8 2008 - Over 400 veterans from the Iraq and Afghan fronts surged through the halls of congress sharing the ground truths of their 'boots on the ground' experience with their Representatives and Senators. Vets for Freedom members from 48 states took part in almost 400 meetings with Senators and Representatives, and were present and mentioned during Ambassador Crocker and General Petraeus' testimony before the Senate.


At a press conference before the event, Senators McCain, Lieberman, Graham, Cornyn, Bond, Coburn, Inhofe, Isakson, Roberts, Sessions and House Members Burgess, Marshall, Johnson, King, McCotter, Poe, Reichert, Wamp, Whittman, Diaz-Balart, Wilson, Schmidt, Blackburn, Murphy, Bachman, Carter, and Gingrey addressed our members and provided strong statements in support of our cause.  The message was clear - commitment to completion of the mission and the counterinsurgency strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Your presence here today vindicates the overwhelming majority of veterans who have served and sacrificed in this conflict and who know there is no substitute for victory." - Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

"Do you know who wants to come home more than anybody? Al Qaeda -- because you are kicking their ass." - Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)	"Wars that are won on the battlefield can be lost here at home on the political battlefield. Do not underestimate the contribution you have made on the political battlefield here at home. You have stuck with the cause of freedom, and as a result, we are not only winning the war in Iraq, we are winning the war here at home in America." - Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT)

"Do you remember the look on the enemies' faces when we crashed through that door when they were asleep?" asked Lutrell. "Well, I keep thinking, all right boys, it's time for us to suit up and get back to work in there [the U.S. Capitol] and wake some of those boys up. I don't think we need to do it as hard over here as we did over there. But things aren't going right. Maybe that's why they called us up here. Let's go to work, boys." - Former US Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell

For more coverage of the event and subsequent videos of Vets for Freedom in floor speeches and testimony hearings click here

Vets for Freedom will continue to lead the charge in support of our brave men and women in uniform. We will continue to ensure that the voice of the vast majority of veterans - those who understand the stakes of success in the Global War on Terror - are heard.