A Note from Kristen (Marshall's wife):
OCT. 10

I remember a phone conversation I had with Marshall when he was still serving in Iraq.  We were discussing our future and trying to decide what job he should apply for in order to support our little family while I finished my graduate degree at USU this fall.  He told me he felt like he needed to do something to help end this war.  I said, “sure”, thinking this meant he would come home, write some letters to politicians, and join an organization devoted to peace.  I had no idea that his efforts would become the most important and time consuming aspect of our lives right now.
 
However, I want to make it clear that I am so grateful to be a part of this.  I truly believe in this cause.  Throughout Marshall’s deployment, I felt so frustrated and powerless about the current situation and the increasingly convoluted justifications for this war.  I am grateful that Marshall has given me an opportunity to feel like I’m actually doing something to promote peace and to bring the rest of the soldiers home soon.

When we began planning this walk, I felt like we would receive a lot of opposition in Utah, and very little support.  I was wrong.  So far, a week and a half into the walk, we have received over a thousand supportive e-mails.  We have also received letters, donations, and words of support from people all over the world.  For every one person who has vocalized their disagreement of this cause or personally attacked Marshall’s character, we have heard from over one hundred people who express their gratitude and support.  As I have walked with Marshall, I have met hundreds of people who agree with Marshall’s message and who are grateful for the opportunity to express their views in Utah.
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I am overwhelmed.  To those of you who have walked with Marshall, who have sent e-mails of support, who have donated, who have shared your stories and experiences, or helped in any other way, thank you.  We are so grateful for the wonderful people that we have encountered during this experience so far.  He still has a long way to go and I hope people will continue to spread the word and to walk with him as he heads south.  With your help, I think we can all be successful in raising awareness and sparking rational debate about the urgency of responsible troop withdrawal from Iraq.  
 
Sincerely,
Kristen Thompson