John, my name is Callie Barr. I’m a 5th-generation Michigander and veterans advocate running to represent Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula in Congress. Will you take 3 minutes to hear my story?
The summer before my junior year of high school, my family moved 100 miles north from Traverse City to Cheboygan — where my parents had met and married decades before. Walking into my new school, the first person to greet me was a boy named Matt. Confused, he thought I was an exchange student! Apparently, God had a plan (and a sense of humor). I met my soulmate that day. Since then, I’ve watched Matt grow from a boy into a man, from a husband into a father. September 11 changed our world forever. Matt’s first call was to a military recruiter’s office to enlist. Two days after graduating high school, Matt left for Marine boot camp. He would later deploy to Iraq, but not before asking me to marry him. He would deploy there twice, while I studied, worked, and prayed he’d come home safely. While Matt did come home, many of our friends did not. When he shipped out to Afghanistan a few years later, I said goodbye with our three-week-old baby in my arms. Matt’s service and exposure to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and blast waves left him with an undiagnosed traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. By now, we had two young girls, and I was trying to care for them, and him, all on my own. Everywhere I looked for help, I ran into red tape and bureaucratic barriers. I felt all alone. But, I realized there were thousands of military families just like mine that felt the same way. So I worked with military non-profits to advocate for military families like mine. I demanded better services and programs for military families. But, when government bureaucrats refused to listen to me because I was “just a military spouse,” I knew I had to do more: I got a law degree and helped veterans take on the VA for free. Now, I’m running for Congress to take on the out-of-touch D.C. politicians like our congressman that are unwilling to put their country before their party, or the needs of the people first. For too long, the families of Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula have been ignored. While our current representative treats Congress like a retirement hobby, we’re left worrying about the cost of gas, groceries, and child care. Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula deserve a representative who isn’t afraid of putting in hard work to fight for us. John, if you’re with me, will you add your name today to endorse my campaign for Congress? It would mean the world to have your support on this journey.
This isn’t going to be easy. For a long time, our congressman has gotten away with being missing in action, and he has a big campaign war chest filled with special interest money that he hides behind. But today, we’re demanding better. Sincerely, Callie Barr
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