I went to Arlington Northwest at Heritage Park today. I helped set up headstones and did some photography too. I am going to post some of those photographs, and set up a flickr embed to display some more. The whole set can be found here: Arlington Northwest Iraq War Memorial 2008

Arlington Northwest

There were many hands to help set up the memorial, but it still took about 5 hours just to get all the markers in place. Here's a statement published by the Veterans for Peace Rachel Corrie Chapter (VFP 109) about the Memorial:

WHY WE PRESENT THE ARLINGTON NORTHWEST MEMORIAL



Veterans for Peace presents the traveling Arlington Northwest Memorial Display and Vigil to support our troops, their families, and our community.



The Memorial is a tribute to our military service persons who have died in Iraq.  It was conceived by veterans who have lived through the horrors of war.  It is a tribute born of their personal losses, sorrows and determination that those who died and those bereft should be acknowledged in a meaningful way.  We feel the lack of recognition of the sacrifice is an injustice, a desecration, and dishonors the sacrifice of our troops, their families, and community.



We resolve to continue to present this Memorial Display and Vigil as a loving, though painful, remembrance of the ultimate cost of war.  It reminds us of the immeasurable losses and suffering associated with war.  We only need to know that their loved ones are left with a painful eternal emptiness.



Our tribute is to the hope that recognition of these sad losses will jolt the depths of our greater compassion and our humanity.  We also hope that our Memorial will extend empathy to all victims of war everywhere and may contribute to the decline of the culture of war.



Veterans For Peace and our supporters resolve to continue our Annual Arlington Northwest Memorial Display and Vigil to respectfully recognize the cost of war and the loss of life and dreams.  We hope our efforts will continue to provide an opportunity for those who come each year to find some small bit of solace and comfort we offer.



LTC George James Jr., USA/USAR (Ret)

Cofounder, Veterans for Peace, Chapter 109, Olympia, WA.

2008 Arlington Northwest Memorial Display and Vigil Project Leader
www.vfp109rcc.org

It requires twenty people over five hours to setup and dismantle this display. It also requires over $1000 per year to store and update the headstones used. Donations in support of this memorial and the activities of the sponsoring organization are gratefully accepted. Donations may be made at the information area on-site at the memorial or by check made out to:
VFP 109
Checks may be mailed to:
VFP 109
PO Box 11924
Olympia, WA 98508-1924

Iraq War Memorial

Headstone

HQ Tent

Placing Headstones

Iraq War Memorial

360º Panorama

Bob

Tribute to Sacrifice

Marking the Line

Jody Mackey

Cutting Headstones

Arlington Northwest, Olympia, Washington, September 2008

Flickr "slideshow embed":