Symbolic moment-Number of crosses on grassy hillside now equals number of fallen soldiers

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Symbolic moment

Number of crosses on grassy hillside now equals number of fallen soldiers

By Jason B. Johnson / San Francisco Chronicle

A controversial Iraq war memorial in Lafayette reached an emotional milestone Sunday, when a group of volunteers added 290 new crosses to the site so there were enough symbols to represent each of the 3,170 American soldiers killed in Iraq since the start of the war. (The count by the Associated Press reached 3,173 late Sunday.)

About 50 people hammered nails, painted the crosses and planted them under a clear blue sky. In clothes flecked with white paint, many smiled and chatted while others worked quietly.

A group opposed to the war has expanded its stark display overlooking the Lafayette BART station over the past several weeks -- gathering in cold weather and at times staging candlelight vigils. Several members said blanketing this green hillside with a sea of crosses, Stars of David and Muslim Crescents has reinvigorated their sense of civic activism.

"This Iraq thing is our generation's Vietnam," said Chris Donton, 36, of Alameda. "This is our cause that this generation can rally around. You feel like you're doing something. People come out and cry. People come out and debate. People come out and rant."

The names of fallen California soldiers have been etched into several of the religious symbols. Organizers also plan to update the total on an accompanying sign that explains the display is in memory of U.S. troops killed in Iraq.

One organizer, Jeff Heaton, said he briefly felt a sense of accomplishment but was sobered by the realization of what the number stands for.

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