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SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah woman whose husband was killed in action in Iraq is organizing a non-partisan rally at the Utah Capitol Wednesday to send a message to Washington — this is not the country her husband signed up to defend.
"We are being pushed aside and ignored," said Shannah Parr. "But, at the same time, we're being used as political pawns anytime the government or our elected officials choose to disagree about something."
Parr has never organized a rally before, but the government gridlock compelled her to plan one. She said she feels her husband's sacrifice on the battlefield is being tarnished by the stalemate in Washington.
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If the shutdown isn't solved soon, thousands of student veterans in Utah won't get the money they need to continue classes."How far do we have to let them go before we all stand up and say enough is enough?" Parr said.
Sgt. Brandon Parr was killed by a roadside bomb in Baghdad in March of 2007. Prompted to join the Army after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, he was on his second tour in Iraq.
Parr said her husband loved his service and planned to make it a career.
"Not a day goes by that we do not think of him," she said.
Her son Nick, who is eleven today, was only four when his father was killed.
I'm tired of my husband's service being used as a political tool or weapon. I feel as though it disgraces him.
–Shannah Parr
The goal of the rally, she said, is to make sure legislators in Washington do not forget Brandon, his surviving family, and other survivors and veterans who won't get benefit checks Nov. 1 if the government remains shut down.
"We represent my husband's voice," she said.
Upon his death, Parr was entitled to receive her husband's paycheck, and her son receives his retirement payouts.
"Tomorrow, Nick's going to go and have a chance to let them know that he sacrificed too," she said.
Congress passed legislation to pay America's military during the shutdown. But veterans and surviving spouses will not receive their benefits next month unless the government shutdown ends.
"I'm tired of my husband's service being used as a political tool or weapon," Parr said. "I feel as though it disgraces him."
- What: Rally against government shutdown
- Where: Utah State Capitol
- When: Wednesday, Oct. 16 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Parr has seven veterans in her extended family, including her late husband, so this issue hits home for her.
"Democrat, Republican, whoever you are," she said, "all of our elected officials should be ashamed of themselves for the embarrassing situation they put our country in."
Parr will take to the State Capitol with posters of protest, welcoming whoever else will join her. She has spread the word on social media, but right now doesn't know how many will join her.
Parr plans to arrive at the Capitol at noon, and stay until 7:30 or 8:00 p.m. to accommodate all kinds of schedules.
"Enough is enough, we are tired of this," Parr said. "Stop fighting like children and do your jobs — the jobs that we elected you to do."
