Because I'd rather have two or three people I know will read and sign rather than 500 people read and do nothing....

From an IAVA mailing....

With your help, we're holding the presidential candidates accountable.
With 53 days left until the election, the stakes couldn't be higher for our country's 1.7 million veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. Thousands of Americans have signed IAVA's open letter, asking Senators Obama and McCain to pledge that they will make veterans' issues a top priority when they reach the White House.

Can you take a minute to add your name?

Over the past two weeks, IAVA took our message of putting veterans first on the road to the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. IAVA is non-partisan and does not endorse political candidates, but we brought member veterans from across the country to tell convention delegates and guests about the most critical issues facing our country's newest generation of heroes.

IAVA will continue to work in Washington, DC and across the country on behalf of our newest generation of veterans. Can you help us out by adding your name to the petition to the candidates?

Yesterday, Senators Obama and McCain put political bickering aside and came together in remembrance of September 11, 2001. Just as patriotism rose above partisanship then, we can unite now to honor our nation's veterans.

Together we can move beyond political rhetoric and work to ensure that no matter who our next President is, veterans' issues remain part of the national dialogue. Be sure to forward this email to your friends and family.

Thank you.
Sincerely,
Paul Rieckhoff
Iraq Veteran
Executive DirectorIraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

P.S. The presidential candidates aren't the only politicians we're holding accountable. In the next few weeks, IAVA Action will be releasing our 2008 Congressional Report Card, grading members of Congress on their votes on key veterans legislation. As soon as it's posted, we'll let you know how to check your lawmakers' scores.