Veterans for Peace set up coffins and crosses representing soldiers killed in Iraq - pics

[Kadie]

Lawrence Baca, 55, of Los Angeles, a volunteer with Veterans for Peace, puts up crosses each representing a U.S. soldier killed in the Iraq war in Santa Monica, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007. (AP Photo/Richard Lui)

http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070902/480/c79b5334ff6b42e98187c1ed7968d0fe


Volunteers with Veterans for Peace set up coffins each representing soldiers killed in Iraq during the week next to the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007. In the background are crosses each representing a U.S. soldier killed in the Iraq war. (AP Photo/Richard Lui)

http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070902/480/c2824db79f3f4e30b90f2b10d6f636e8

[sailor65]

1. Very moving display. n/t

[liberal N proud]

2. Next time I visit Santa Monica, I will remember these pictures.

Thanks for posting.

[fed-up]

3. wow-what a sad sight-thanks to all those that helped-and are helping to end this blood bath :( nt

[provis99]

4. Were they arrested?

Anti-war activists that have done this before have been arrested for everything ranging from littering to public mischief. Way to support the troops, Bush :sarcasm:

[Hekate]

13. In both Santa Barbara (where Arlington West began) & Santa Monica this is an ongoing memorial

In both places Arlington West is sponsored by the local chapter of Veterans for Peace. Santa Barbara's is there every Sunday on the public beach by Stearns Wharf, and enjoys strong public support, including the Mayor and City Council. I don't know all the details about Santa Monica's AW, but they have been doing this a long time too.

Arlington West has inspired many other memorials, but setting up the crosses (or tombstones or whatever) not only takes up a lot of space but involves punching holes in the ground -- the holes are no problem in the beach sand, but they are definitely a problem in grass, so not all locations are suitable.

The response to Arlington West has been overwhelmingly positive. Passersby are simply aghast at how many crosses there are. Santa Barbara's crosses have names on them, and approximately 20% have been sought out specifically by family members or brothers-in-arms of the fallen. Cindy Sheehan came to AW with her family on the Mother's Day after her son Casey was killed in Iraq.

For more information you can go online.

Hekate

[snot]

5. What's the significance of the red crosses? nt

[fed-up]

7. when we did the Iraq Body Count Memorial-the white crosses were Iraqis-the red US military

IRAQ BODY COUNT MEMORIAL

Chico became the fourth city to host this powerful memorial. Over 116,000 survey flags were installed at Children's Playground (1st & Main) to represent the people who have died in Iraq since the war began over four years ago. 3,000 red flags represented fallen American soldiers, and the rest were white to represent Iraqis (most were civilians) killed.

We received much media coverage and the memorial was a backdrop for Street Peace while Cindy Sheehan was in Chico.

The memorial was created by the Portland-based organization Iraq Peace Project. The Chico Peace and Justice Center partnered with the Environmental Action and Resource Center to bring this memorial to Chico.







We were only alloted a small portion of Children's Playground near the fence so as not to be a hazard.

pssst Agent Mike-that's me in the white t-shirt that says-"Mom, What was Democracy Like?"

[Kadie]

10. Thanks for posting.

Amazing picture.

Wow.

[Anita Garcia]

12. Powerful! Thanks for doing that!

It makes a powerful statement.
Great job!

[Kadie]

8. From their web-site...

Welcome to
ARLINGTON WEST SANTA MONICA

Every Sunday from sunrise to sunset since February 15th 2004, a temporary memorial is erected in the sand just north of the pier at Santa Monica Beach in Los Angeles and at Sterns Wharf in Santa Barbara, California and other locations around the country by local chapters of Veterans For Peace (VFP) and volunteers. This memorial is known as Arlington West.

Arlington West Mission Statement
In keeping with the Veterans for Peace Statement of Purpose, the Arlington West Mission Statement is: to honor the fallen and wounded to acknowledge the human cost of war to provide a place to grieve to encourage dialogue among people with varied points of view and to educate the public about the needs of those returning from war.

Visiting Arlington West
Visitors to Arlington West will see many placards placed on some of the crosses. In grief over their loss, many family members have dedicated their own words and mementos to their loved ones. Positioned nearby stands a “wall” where the public can view the frequently updated list of names of fallen American military personnel since the U.S. invaded and occupied Iraq. People are welcome to select a name from here and express their own thoughts and sentiments and place these on a cross along with a flower provided for this purpose. A thread of red crosses, now numbering over 100, is representative of 10 military personnel each who've lost their lives through violence.


http://www.arlingtonwestsantamonica.org/

[snot]

9. wow . . .

[uppityperson]

6. k&r

[Anita Garcia]

11. I like that they are not all crosses

Thanks for posting