Julie Olsen
4,800+ lives lost and counting
Today's image is titled has once again erected its Memorial Mile, a procession of headstones to mark the more than 4,800 American servicepersons who have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan this decade. After two previous displays in Olbrich Park, the group has moved the memorial to Speedway Road alongside Forest Hill Cemetery. "It is the resting place for literally hundreds of Union and Confederate soldiers, as well as veterans who served in the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Korea, Viet Nam and the first Gulf War," notes the group. "It is the site of annual Memorial Day ceremonies respecting the sacrifices of so many Americans."
Madison Veterans for Peace placed the markers on Saturday, November 8. "The sobering and respectful display symbolizes the deaths of over 4,300 US service personnel in Iraq and nearly 500 in Afghanistan," explains the group. "Over 35,000 Americans have been seriously wounded in Iraq. To date 95 Wisconsin soldiers have died, symbolized by the small Wisconsin flags on scattered headstones." A brief ceremony was held on Sunday, which included a roll call of the Wisconsin war dead included in the memorial. The display will remain in place until Saturday, November 15.
"It's hard to drive this mile without realizing just how many lives have been lost," notes Olsen. "Great work by the Madison Veterans for Peace."
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