Arlington West Memorial at Santa Monica Beach

[Beaverhausen]

http://www.addictedtowar.com/mfso.htm

I happened upon this yesterday. It struck me nearly as hard as the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC. All those crosses and stars of David spoke so loudly in their solemn vigil.

I was having a day out with two girlfriends- one of whom is a firm republican. She and I manage to get along because we both know where the other stands and just don't talk politics. We have a long friendship that I value, even if I disagree with her on this topic. She laughed at my "W Is Not The Answer" bumper sticker.

We walked down to the pier and looked to the right and there they were. All those crosses. 1,914 of them. Dedicated volunteers set it up every sunday. It takes three hours.

Our other friend who just moved back here from the east coast spoke of a friend of a friend who had died in Iraq earlier this year. We looked up his name on the large board listing, by date, all those who have died. We found it - Kenneth Ivy II, 28 years old. He died on May 11, 2005.

She wrote his name on a piece of cardboard provided and attached it, along with flowers and a small marine corp. flag- all provided by the volunteers who are there every week - to one of the crosses. She took a photo with her phone that she will email her friend, who will email her friend, the dead marine's widow.

After the positive energy and enthusiastic anger of the march the day before, this was just one more experience to drive home to me what we have to keep fighting against. Every day.


If you get a chance and are in southern California on a sunday please go visit this moving and important memorial.