[updated with schedule:]

According to credible scientic census survey, as many as an estimated 1,300,000 Iraqis may have been killed in Iraq as a result of the US invasion and occupation. Countless more Iraqis suffer war related injury, from loss of limbs to permanent brain injury, and everything in between. When the psychological toll of living in a war zone is taken into account, there is probably no person who has been left unscathed.

Here in Olympia, Washington, thanks to the long hours of hard work by a dedicated core group of volunteers, we all have a chance to reflect on the true cost of war.

The Memorial is happening this week. And you can help to make it happen.

Gather for the Iraq Memorial to Life at Heritage Park (5th Ave and Water St) on Friday morning, March 20th, 2009. Memorial set-up will begin shortly after 8 AM. Your help is pleasantly requested to set-up thousands of symbolic grave markers, which are designed to memorialize the lives of individual Iraqis whom have died as a result of the US invasion and occupation.

You're also invited to a Community Observance ceremony to mark the actual six-year anniversary of the start of the bombing campaign. It will be Thursday, March 19th, 2009, from 6:30 until 7:30 PM at St. John's Episcopal (20th and Capitol Way.)

Schedule:

Friday, March 20

8 AM Morning Meditation and Begin Set-up

1 PM Opening Ceremony

• Invocation, Arther Vaeni, Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
• Walking Meditation, Koro Kaisan Miles, Zen Buddhist - Open Gate Zendo
• Words Connecting People, Bill Ransom, Poet, The Evergreen State College

• Imam Twahiru Mohammed, Islamic Center of Olympia
• Salam Talib Hassan, Iraqi Native, associate journalist, translator for Dahr Jamail

Saturday, March 21

4 PM Closing Ceremony

• Veteran for Peace, Robert Poteat, Rachel Corrie Chapter Veterans for Peace
• Words Inward/Onward, Larry Kerschner, Poet, Rachel Corrie Chapter Veterans for Peace
• Islamic Community Message, Muhammad Ayub, Islamic Center of Olympia
• Memorial Moves On, Arthur Vaeni, Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation

Financial donations are encouraged and will be accepted in order to help cover the costs of the events.

I hope to see you.

Berd