Usually when I'm at Santa Monica Pier I'm all about the surf and the sand but recently Husband and I hit the beach for a Sunday afternoon walk and came across Arlington West-- A memorial we'd often heard about by never seen in person.
It's presented by Veterans for Peace every Sunday. Each cross represents all American military personnel who've lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. The red crosses represent ten soldiers each.
It took our breath away and made us cry.
Thank you to our soldiers and God Bless America.
How's your Sunday?
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins
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Oh.My.Goodness.
ReplyDeleteAll those crosses, and ten each for the ones in red. Really brings it all home, doesn't it?
I've always felt that the military and the media de-personalize the deaths of our young men and women by referring to them as "troops;" the truth is, that "troop" was a mother's son, that "troop" was a father's little girl, that "troop" was a husband, a girlfriend, a new parent with little ones at home. That "troop" was someone who was loved.
I had never even heard of Arlington West. Thank you for shedding some light on this most important day.
I've never heard of Arlington West. What a wonderful tribute to all who have lost their lives. Seeing all those crosses really brings home how many have been killed.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, that is so sad. Thanks for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteWhat a heartbreakingly painful yet beautiful place to visit. I hope no more crosses are added.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
What a heartbreakingly painful yet beautiful place to visit. I hope no more crosses are added.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
This is sadly beautiful, the position next to the ocean gives it a feel of endlessness and reinforces the importance of the memorial...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and touching post in words and images...
xo
You know, I've been to Arlington National Cemetery more times than I can count and it never ceases to move me....and this 'west' version is so cool. It's set up with the same care and precision. Thanks for sharing it, JJ!
ReplyDeleteIncredible. Awesome. Deeply moving.
ReplyDeleteI'm touched by the dedication of the Veterans for Peace. It's a captivating memorial.
ReplyDeletewow. that is a stunning reminder that some gave all...and i am sad, yet thankful they were willing...nice jj
ReplyDeleteThat took my breath away! Such a chilling reminder of the true cost of war! The human scale is staggering!
ReplyDeleteThank you
Hugs
SueAnn
Joanne, they had this set up a few years back, remember? It even traveled up to the beaches of Santa Barbara.
ReplyDeleteA solemn, moving tribute, which speaks volumes. So achingly sad.
ReplyDeleteSo sad that the term "disposable" would ever be used to describe the soldiers sent to fight in the name of this country. Even sadder is the thought that the soldiers themselves think of themselves as disposable. So many things have continued to turn rotten since the invasion of Iraq. It takes dedication for the people to continue to set up this memorial each week and to give folks something tangible to remind them of the many lives given for what they believed was right an honorable.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Joanna, sobering and very moving.
ReplyDeleteHave a good Sunday. xxx
very moving tribute.
ReplyDeleteIncredible tribute. I can see why this would be an emotional experience.
ReplyDeleteWow! As soon as I seen the first photo I got tears in my eyes...and I thought how much more powerful this must be in person. And then I read your words "we cried" and I think how could we not cry over this? It is so easy to forget about all the men and women that are giving their lives or coming back here and living with wounds the rest of your life.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is even those that don't get physically hurt, they do have an inner hurt from being there. I have talked to the parents of many of the young men and women that I know that have been there and back and they tell me that their son or daughter are no longer the same...they have nightmares, they have a seriousness about them, they drink too much, their jumpy...ect...they go and come back forever changed...but how could they not?
Thank you for sharing this tribute! XX
Words are not enough, are they?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the photos.
Well, that is a great visual reminder of the sacrifices made on our behalf.
ReplyDeleteI've not heard of that but what a poignant and profound message it holds. Thanks for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing memorial. And heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing and a beautiful remberance to those who've lost their lives for our freedoms as well as those injured. All those crosses, it's so tragic, my heart breaks for their families. Thank you for sharing and showing this - awesome!!
ReplyDeleteWow, it's awe inspiring. I can only imagine how much more so in person.
ReplyDeleteSad, isn't it, to realize that each cross represents ten human lives? Very moving, thanks so much for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's stunning. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI often wonder how readily countries would go to war, if it was the leaders own children on the frontlines. My heart breaks for the soldiers and families who have had to suffer the ultimate sacrifice...
ReplyDeleteWhoever put the crosses in the ground is very patient and talented. Those are some really straight rows and lines are perfect. Wow........
ReplyDeleteI saw that last time in SM very moving!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have been there several times, I have never seen this!! Wow!! Makes you stop and think!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and moving.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize there was an Arlington Memorial in Santa Monica. I would like to go the next time I'm in California.
ReplyDeletemay peace reign in all corners of the world. wow.
ReplyDeleteStopping by from Unknown Mami:) This photo's are amazing, wow Thank you for sharing them with the world:)
ReplyDeleteThat left a huge lump in my throat. It's almost too much to take in.
ReplyDeleteThat gave me the chills! I've never seen that, I'm going to have to venture down there and see it!
ReplyDeleteWow. That is so powerful and so moving. It breaks my heart to think of all those futures destroyed. Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this....smiles...
ReplyDeleteGlory sweetie, it really put into prospective the sacrifices made so we can live, speak and pray freely in this great nation of our. I thank all military families for all they do for those freedoms.
ReplyDeleteThe picture is just amazing.
God bless ya and have a beautiful day!
I didn't know about this either - what an honorable tribute to our troops. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteKristin _ The Goat
Wow - what amazing shots. All those red crosses - so poignant!
ReplyDeleteSo touching. May their soul rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteNever, ever seen anything like this.
ReplyDeleteThis is a superb way to show what's the result of wars.
Absolutely shocking.
But it's good to wake up us who never been in a war.
Those who lose the most are (has always been) ordinary people - both sides.
Those who have money and power are never in the same position as ordinary human - citizen of the country attacked or those who are attacking lose the most.
Winners sit in their offices and plan new attacks...Never ending story.
Next huge war will be of drinking water.
We shouldn't give any gratuitous money as development aid.
Thanks for sharing this meaningful post!
Wow this is stunning! Im so glad you were able to see this for yourself and take photos of it!
ReplyDeleteThat is so touching. We really don't realize how many lives have been lost for our country until we see something like that.
ReplyDeleteThat is really amazing.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes this even more special to me is that it is done at the beach, prime real estate, with the beautiful ocean there, so fitting a memorial - for many of our young soldiers lost their lives, storming beaches during war time.
ReplyDeleteI, like your other commenters, had tears in my eyes reading this. I hope I get to see it one of these days.
wow, that is so powerful, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love this so much. Posted it on my facebook wall.
ReplyDeleteOh boy, gotta a huge lump in my throat...
ReplyDeleteThe peace movement is deeply enriched by the involvement of veterans. They know better than any of us the true cost of war.
ReplyDeleteWow. What a moving display. I had not heard of this place before. I'm so glad you went and then shared it with us. :)
ReplyDeleteWords can't express the emotions you feel when you go to a place such as this. And to think each cross represents 10. Thanks for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteOn you previous post, I think you did well on your accomplishments. that baby is adorable!!
My husband is an airman who served in Iraq. I am amazed by the commitment of this organization. I am immensely grateful to them for creating this beautiful and moving tribute to our fallen soldiers. And I am thankful to you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week.
:-)
Traci
Oh my goodness, what beautiful, and yet difficult pictures those are. Thank you for sharing them. It really does take my breath away, and not in a good way.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a child my father, who worked in Washington D.C. took me to the National cemetery, and I stood on what had been Robert E. Lee's porch and thought the view was beautiful. Just stunning.
Then my dad told me that all of the markers were for people, soldiers who had died and at eight it upset me terribly. I was very confused and voiced how wrong I thought it was. My father, a historian, talked to me about it for quite a while.
Seeing these pictures today made me think of that, and made me wonder if the world wouldn't perhaps be a better place if we could all remain the versions of ourselves when we were eight-years-old.
Wow...the enormity of that is stunning. We cannot ever, ever, thank those men and women enough.
ReplyDeleteThey do that EVERY Sunday? Thank you so much for posting about this, I had never heard of it before. That is incredibly powerful!
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful tribute!
ReplyDeletethis is just not right,
ReplyDeleteoh that things could be different.
prayers for each and every one of them
Wow. This is an impressive display. I probably would have cried, too. I get emotional just looking at the pictures. I can't imagine seeing it in person.
ReplyDeletePretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
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