Silence of the Dead - Voices of the Living

On Mother's Day weekend, Gold Star Families, Vets from Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam and other conflicts, Military Families, Surviving Family Members from 9/11 and the American Friends Service Committee brought a human face of the current War in Iraq to the Mall in Washington DC.

As I got off of the Metro at the Smithsonian Station on Friday afternoon, I saw row upon row of empty combat boots. These boots, placed at precise intervals, represented the 2437 members of the Military that had given their lives in Iraq. In several winding paths, hundreds of empty shoes, many woman's and childen's shoes, represented the innocent Iraqi civilians who have died. In the center of the display, stood a large pictogram featuring portraits of Iraqi people, smiling and going about the business of life. The inside of the pictogram told the story of war and occupation.

On the stage, volunteers read the names, American and Iraqi who have died in a war of choice, based upon "faulty intelligence" and/or intelligence poorly used by our leadership. Visitors to the Mall wandered through the boots and shoes - many taking the time to read personal momentos left by family and friends to honor their loved ones - now gone. I saw several grade school groups go through the exhibit - with the exuberance of youth giving way to a somber moment as they reflected upon what those boots and shoes meant. Many were on their way to other monuments on the Mall...honoring American's who during other conflicts had lost their lives in the service of their country.

I could not read names that day...the sadness was almost overwhelming. I had not met any of the people who once had inhabited those boots or shoes, but I do know some of their family members and they have shared their stories with me.

My room mate for the weekend was a Soldier's Mom from Oregan. Her daughter was riding in a helicopter that was shot down in Iraq in 2004. She survived the incident but sustained a badly broken leg that sadly, has not been properly cared for...and has resulted in permenant damage to the leg. These stories are common: one family had lost their son to suicide a year after returning from Iraq. He suffered from extreme PTSD and was not afforded care through the VA.

Despite both email invitations and those sent via "snail mail" none of my elected Representatives chose to visit the Exhibit. I guess it is difficult to see the human lives impacted by the policy you vote for. Some family members met with their elected representatives...I hand delivered letters to the offices of Barak Obama and Richard Durbin from people in the area who had kids serving...and others simply concerned with the death and destruction brought about by this war of choice.

On Saturday, led off by members of Iraq Vets Against the War, we marched to the Capitol in silent protest. Along the route, I saw many people embrace and a few cried as we approached. Some flashed peace signs and some bowed their heads.

When the March finished up, several Vets, Family members and others spoke to the crowd that had gathered. Each spoke to the personal cost of the policy approved by our elected representatives. Most spoke of loss. Sadly, we had to add several pairs of boots to the display that weekend - including a pair representing the son of a long time MFSO member. Her son died of injuries sustained in combat in the Military Hospital in Germany. His funeral will be held at the National Cathederal in Washington DC...and he will be buried in Arlington with other sons of MFSO members.

Because of predicted bad weather, a decision was made to strike the Exhibit a day early. Carefully, volunteers stuffed the boots with newspaper to absorb the rain. A few people from Illinois joined me in caring for the boots from those who had died from Illinois. We cared for 94 pairs of boots.