A group of veterans left Mobile, Alabama, today marching the 140 miles to New Orleans in what they describe as a protest of the corrupt war in Iraq and the Bush administration's abysmal handling of the response to Hurricane Katrina and the continuing relief effort.

Paul Robinson, president of the Mobile chapter of Veterans for Peace, expects 300 or more people to participate in the "Walkin' to New Orleans" march, he said in a news conference in Prichard.

The group is demanding an end to the war in Iraq and a large increase in resources to help hurricane victims rebuild their lives.

"As veterans, we were often sent in as destructive forces or as peacekeeping forces, and in this case we are representing the peacekeeping initiative," Robinson said. "We are setting out on this 140 mile trek to help rebuild and draw attention to the plight along the Gulf Coast."

Marchers will arrive in New Orleans on Saturday, and will be joined by anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, according to her sister Dede Miller, who plans to march the entire way.

Sheehan's son was killed in Iraq. She came to national prominence last year after staging a protest outside President George W. Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Miller blamed the war in Iraq, and what she believes is an inadequate response to the needs of the Katrina victims, on Bush's "incompetent administration."

"I'm marching because this will bring attention to the war and what's going on here in the South," Miller said. "It's outrageous."

The group plans to march by day and stay in tents, motor homes and other vehicles at night.

Bill Perry, 58, of Pennsylvania, wore a leather vest displaying patches representing the Army's infantry division, paratroopers and those who served in his old unit, the 101st Airborne, according to the Press.

Perry said because of his failing health, he will drive to New Orleans in his sport utility vehicle, which flies an American flag and displays a big sign that says in part: "Abandon Iraq, not our Gulf Coast."

"We are spending $330 billion on the wrong gulf," he said.

Garett Reppenhagen, 30, of Washington, who was dressed in part of the desert tan Army fatigue uniform he wore while serving in the in Iraq for a year, said he joined the Army when he was 26 and was a cavalry scout and sniper.

"I'm marching because I disagree with the war," he said. "I think domestic problems that we have at home have to do with the overspending on this war."

As for the impact of the march, he said, "I think it will raise some awareness that there are anti-war groups out there that are actually doing something. and bring attention to the problem. I'm doing it because during my year in Iraq that I spent there, I saw more harm than good."

Read the Mobile Press version of the story here.

Editor's Note: The Locust Fork News and Blog staff will likely catch up with the marchers on the way to New Orleans sometime Friday afternoon and be there to cover the arrival.

Also, we have just learned that artist, photographer, under employed adjunct professor and friend Dave Stueber should have Internet access hooked up this week, finally. So we should be able to blog from Dupre Street. It's about time...

Meanwhile, the dog and cat food fund is almost fully depleted, so if you want to help out,
here's how.