“Ours is a sacrifice you will never know. Ours is a sacrifice we would never want you to know.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Family members of twenty-three fallen service-members are writing to Donald J. Trump today, expressing their dismay at his treatment of the family of CPT. Humayun Khan, and demanding an apology. The letter was organized by Karen Meredith, a Gold Star mother who serves as Military Families Coordinator for VoteVets.org.

The letter is below:

August 1, 2016 Donald J Trump 725 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10022 Mr. Trump, We are all Gold Star Families, who have lost those we love the most in war. Ours is a sacrifice you will never know. Ours is a sacrifice we would never want you to know. Your recent comments regarding the Khan family were repugnant, and personally offensive to us. When you question a mother's pain, by implying that her religion, not her grief, kept her from addressing an arena of people, you are attacking us. When you say your job building buildings is akin to our sacrifice, you are attacking our sacrifice. You are not just attacking us, you are cheapening the sacrifice made by those we lost. You are minimizing the risk our service members make for all of us. This goes beyond politics. It is about a sense of decency. That kind decency you mock as "political correctness." We feel we must speak out and demand you apologize to the Khans, to all Gold Star families, and to all Americans for your offensive, and frankly anti-American, comments. We hope you will hear us. Sincerely, Diane and Neil Santoriello, Mother and Father of 1LT Neil Santoriello, KIA, Iraq Summer Lipford-Mickelson, Mother, Frederick Sirko, Father, Kirby Mickelson, Stepfather, Laura Sirko Samimy and Bridget Sirko Gentle, Sisters of PFC Steven Sirko, KIA, Iraq. Sue and Randy Loudon, Mother and Father of 2ndLt. Christopher Loudon, KIA, Iraq Melanie House, Widow of HM3 John Daniel House, KIA, Iraq Derek and Lorene Davey, Mother and Father of Cpl. Seamus M. Davey, KIA, Iraq Celeste Zappala, Mother of SGT. Sherwood Baker, KIA, Iraq Sue Niederer, Mother of 2LT Seth Dvorin, KIA, Iraq Fulvio and Gilda Carbonaro, Father and Mother of Sgt. Alessandro Carbonaro, KIA, Iraq Karen Meredith, Mother of 1LT Ken Ballard, KIA, Iraq Sergio Torres, Father, Lupe Torres, Mother and Beatriz Saldivar, Aunt of SGT Daniel Torres, KIA, Iraq MG (Ret.) Paul D. Eaton, and Frank Eaton, sons of Col. Norman Eaton, KIA, Vietnam Stephanie Fisher, mother of SSG Thomas Fogarty, KIA Afghanistan Norma and Oscar Aviles, parents of Lcpl. Andrew J. Aviles, KIA Iraq Cheryl Lankford, widow of CSM Jonathan"Miles"Lankford Sr., KIAIraq Carlos and Melida Arredondo Father & Step-Mother to Lcpl. Alexander Arredondo, KIA, Iraq Florence Sandra Penn , sister of 1 LT Charles Penn Jr , KIA Korea Nadia McCaffrey, mother of SGT Patrick McCaffrey, KIA Iraq Xiomara Mena, Mother of CPL Andy D Anderson KIA, Iraq

Annette Pritchard, Aunt of PFC William Ramirez, KIA Iraq

Paula Davis, Mother of PFC Justin R. Davis , KIA Afghanistan

Nooshin Razani and Javad Razani , Sister and Father of SPC Omead Razani, Iraq Christina and James Ayube, Mother and Father of Sgt James Anthony Ayube II, KIA Afghanistan

Keavin Duffy, Brother of SGT Shane Duffy KIA Iraq

Tracy Miller, Mother of Cpl. Nicholas Lee Ziolkowski, KIA , Iraq

Pam Baragona, Sister and Dominic and Vilma Baragona, Parents of LTC. Dominic (Rocky) Baragona, Iraq

Marianne Cleary, Mother of 1Lt Michael Cleary, KIA, Iraq

Fernando Suarez del Solar, Father of Lcpl Jesus Suarez del Solar, KIA Iraq

Lauren and Scott Webber, Sister & Brother-in-law of LCpl Matthew R. Rodriguez, KIA Afghanistan

Michelle Githens Baugh, Daughter of SP4 Richard Earl Githens, KIA Vietnam

Joy Goode, Mother of Petty Officer Keon Askew, Died at Sea Greg Commons Father & Linda Chapman, Step-Mom of Cpl. Matthew Commons, KIA Afghanistan Melinda Kane, Mother of Lcpl Jeremy Kane, KIA Afghanistan LTC (R) Kimberly A. Enderle, Daughter of MAJ Clyde W Enderle, KIA Vietnam J. Stephania Ryan, Daughter SGT. Dwight M. "Bull" Durham, KIA Vietnam. Dan Shea and Tom & Colleen Shea brothers and sister in law of Lt Col Kevin Shea, KIA Iraq Dan Baum , Father of SSGT Tane Baum, KIA Afghanistan Susan Rilliet, Sister of MOH awardee, LCpl Jedh Colby Barker, KIA Vietnam Jim Barber, Brother of Aviation Machinist’s Mate Third Class Thomas Barber, KIA Vietnam Les Hausrath, Brother of 2nd Lt Donald Hausrath, KIA Vietnam Joan Donaldson, Mother of SGT Mateo Donaldson, Afghanistan Jean Gill, Sister of Pfc Robert Earl Gill, KIA Vietnam Keith LaRiviere, Brother of Steve LaRiviere, Beirut Susan Rilliet, Sister of LCpl Jedh Colby Barker Dolly Barker Lewis, Anne Barker Kist, Sisters and John W. Barker, Brother of LCpl Jedh Colby Barker, KIA Vietnam

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