The Cost of War
On Memorial Day my husband and I went to a park here in town where the local chapter of Veterans for Peace had set up an exhibit to give citizens a sense of the cost of war.
First they presented some sobering statistics concerning our soldiers
and the effects of war on the families for both countries
And even more sobering statistics about the innocent civilians in Iraq
They also pointed out the economic waste of war
Showing us better ways we could be spending our money
And how the war is even impacting the environment
But the true impact of the exhibit came from the miniature tombstones that stretched well over a mile down the street.
There were 4975 of them, one for every American life lost in this war.
These four below caught my eye. They were all killed on the same day-Nov. 19, 2005.
They were 21, 23, 24, and 25 years old. Young men in the prime of life who died on foreign soil for a war that we still are fighting, a war that seems to have no end.
I couldn't help but think what a sad Thanksgiving their families must have had that year, and every year since.
The exhibit was so large it stretched a full mile down one side of the road with markers running from the beginning of the war in 2003, and then was started on the other side with 2008 and 2009.
The whole exhibit made me incredibly sad, but these were the markers that really started me crying.
Friends and family had left behind flowers and notes on the tombstones.
And last, but not least-the there were two unnamed markers, the most recent casualties of this horrible war.
I am grateful for the hard work the Veterans for Peace group did for getting this exhibit together. In talking to one of the members I asked how long it took to set it up. He said something that was heartbreaking because of its truth:
"Not that long, about three hours. Unfortunately, we are getting good at it because of the practice each year."
The cost of war is always too high, but especially so in this war.
Rose S. Williams
Southernstoryteller~May 29, 2009
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Comments: 18
You did a fantastic job on this photo essay. It really is sobering and heart breaking to think that every single one of those tombstones stand for one of our troops.
xcellent post Rose...
Thank you Lisa, I took so many photos, it was hard to pick just these few but it would have taken forever to upload them all. I plan to do another essay soon with some other things they had on exhibit. Thank you for reading!
Dear Ron-I take that compliment to heart, coming from you Sir and your service to our country.
Outstanding photo essay! For or against this war, this is a sobering photo essay.
Thank you Kat...it really made me do some crying while walking that mile.
Great photo essay. I'll agree that it's very sobering. Nice photo work too.
Rose, my husband is a navy veteran and we DO NOT or have we ever supported this war. If I would have lived closer, I would have helped you with this! I was extremely touched by the young man's tombstone with a message written on it. God Bless you!
Thanks Marianne. It was something I felt very strongly needed to be caught on camera and reported.
Denise-Thank you so much and thanks to your husband for his service to our country.
Thank you Rose for posting this. It certainly does bring to the forefront just how devastating war can be. You did an amazing job with your photos and the people who dedicated their time and efforts should be commended.
Back in the 60s, the very first protest march that I participated in was sponsored by "Vietnam Vets Against the War". My husband (100% disabled combat-related PTSD) was attending an in-patient therapy program in the Vets Hospital down in the Bay Area (Palo Alto) and he said one of the other VietVets was going off about anti-war protestors in a therapy session one time... My husband (door gunner and crew chief of a Huey in the First Air Cav during and after the Tet Offensive) turned to him and said:
"You were in the War and you still think it was a good idea? You really ARE crazy!"
(He's a "good ole boy" that Hubby of mine... ;o) )
I marched with the VVAW too Jean . . . in Wachington D.C. to protest Nixon's reelection . . . with my brother, who thankfully came home from Vietnam in one piece.
Excellent article Rose. Poignant and heartbreaking.
This was a well done event and you did a great job chronicalizing the event. War should always be a last resort (see my post "Echoes OF Andersonville). The only thing I wish they would have included is prisoners of war and the cost to the families left behind. This is sobering and a great post!
Sobering. A wonderful essay, Rose.
I can't even think straight when I see this, Memorial Day at the Bay Pines National Cemetery is still fresh on my mind. I don't think I'll ever go there again on Memorial Day, the air was charged with the strong emotions of all the visitors. I'm glad my son met me there. I will stick with going during the quiet time when everyone but the widows and fatherless and motherless forgets and votes for war - what was the last one? terrorist? or was it oil interests?
I want no damned celebration, I want my husaband back! I feel rage that we haven't learned to say NO to war as a species. When will there be a call to war and we will say, "Hell no - we won't go?" Forget it, we already had some of that for all the good it did.
It's nice to 'imagine" along with John Lennon though. I get my fill of looking at grave plates every time I visit my husband at the cemetery - the cost of war. The ultimate sacrifice - gee, where is that any different from thousands of years ago. We haven't learned a thing as a species.
Sorry, Rose - I think I'll quietly exit now and write my own private rant so I can survive another day without him. I just want to lash out and damn - war is personal when you become a widow.
Just one last chuckle, while Bush was still in office they had a peace protest in Tampa when he was in town. Rumor has it, they made note of who particpated, considering them the same as terrorists.
Beautiful Rose and a lovely tribute too!!!
What a powerful photo essay, Rose!
Thank you!