Camp Casey, Crawford, Texas

Arriving on a bus that departed the Veterans for Peace National Convention, Cindy Sheehan walked with the support of Camilo Mejía and other veterans who helped Cindy gain passage when multiple officers of the law attempted to persuade her from advancing beyond the Crawford Texas Peace House Sheehan failed to get a second meeting with President Bush for an explanation of the cause for which her son, Casey, died.

Having been turned away, she pitched a tent by the side of the road and announced her intention to stay, day and night, for the full five weeks or until such a meeting is granted.

[1] Other members of Gold Star Families for Peace and other anti–Iraq War activists joined them, camped in public land, such as ditches by the road.

[2]Prior to going on a bicycle ride on his Texas ranch on August 13, 2005, Bush gave journalists and aides a defense of his not meeting with Sheehan stating, as reported by Ken Herman of Cox Enterprises: I think it's important for me to be thoughtful and sensitive to those who have got something to say.

[8] Tom Matzzie of MoveOn said: In her grief and bravery, Cindy has become a symbol for millions of Americans who demand better answers about the Iraq war.

Sherry Bohlen, field director of the Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), was one person traveling to Crawford, and said of the protest: We'll be sleeping in a tent in the ditch along the roadside (the only place that the authorities will allow us to be).

She said that local authorities have told her that if we're still there by Thursday we'll be arrested as "national security risks"... She could well be the Rosa Parks of the movement against the Iraq War.

She's the spark that is igniting the anti-war movement.On August 9, 2005, Sheehan began writing a blog concerning (among other things) her experience at Camp Casey, her thoughts on the Iraq War, and her response to right-wing criticism of her.

She spoke at the laissez-faire Ludwig von Mises Institute, whose founder and president, the free-market capitalist Lew Rockwell, regularly features Sheehan's columns on his website.

Sherwood Baker, the first Pennsylvania National Guardsman to die in Iraq, arrived at Camp Casey on August 9 and met with Sheehan.

[11] Zappala would become a co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace, acting as a voice for many of their campaigns[12] and pledging to continue the protest at Camp Casey after Sheehan chose to leave.

Travis Bradach-Nall, who died from a land mine explosion in Iraq during the summer of 2004, travelled from Portland, Oregon to Crawford to join Sheehan in her vigil.

"[15] Karen Meredith, whose son, Army Lt. Ken Ballard, was killed in Iraq in May 2004,[16] defended Sheehan, saying, "Some people are trying to paint her as one crazy woman against the war, and she's not.

Qualls stated that he had to keep taking down the white cross bearing his son's name from the Arlington West display set up by "Camp Casey.