Monday, May 26, 2008

Sara M. Meeks reports on the work of setting up Memorial Mile

Sara M. Meeks: Memorial Day on 8th Avenue | Gainesville.com | The Gainesville Sun | Gainesville, FL

At 4:00 A.M. Saturday morning I joined a group of 50-plus people who showed up at the corner of 34th Street and 8th Avenue to lend their bodies, minds and hearts in the set-up of a memorial to the brave men and women who have given their lives or been injured during service to our country in Afghanistan and Iraq. Others had been there since 2:00 A.M. to set up the markers for the memorial.

As the group worked by flashlight, streetlight and moonlight, I could sense a distinct sense of purpose and dedication of those present. I personally felt an intense sadness throughout as I helped to place each miniature gravestone in its exact location according to date of death. The volunteers were young and old, men and women, there to develop a simple, yet very sobering, memorial to the human cost of war.

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