Families come to the Santa Monica Beach on Sundays to relax and enjoy a beach day together, but there's more to a typical day in the sun. The Veterans for Peace in Los Angeles sets up a temporary Iraq war memorial each Sunday from sunrise to sunset just north of the Santa Monica Pier. The memorial, known as Arlington West, is a place where visitors can honor and grieve the fallen and wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each cross represents a soldier who gave his or her life for the safety of the United States and each week, more crosses are added for more fallen soldiers. As American fatalities increase, white crosses are replaced with red ones. Each red cross represents the lives of 10 fallen military personnel.
The memorial is not limited to just crosses laid out in the sand.
The Arlington West includes pillars of the names of all of the fatalities since day one of the war, with one pillar dedicated to the female fatalities in Iraq alone. The seven blue coffins with the American flag draped over it represents those military personnel who have fallen within the past week.
The Arlington West gives visitors a physical grasp on the affects of war, especially when families and close friends of the fallen write personal messages on a cross dedicated to their loved one. These messages include short snippets of their feelings, pictures, and precious belongings. There is even a book where visitors can write their personal messages to those who are fighting for our country. It is important for Americans to acknowledge that fellow citizens are putting their lives in the front line of danger for the safety of everyone sitting at home. Not to mention, that each soldier fighting is someone's son, daughter, husband, wife, best friend, mother or father.
This memorial gives meaning to just a regular Sunday at the beach. It reminds everyone at home what others are giving up just so we can enjoy the beautiful Santa Monica sunset.
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