See Schedule on VFP Calendar
Motorists were bombarded with the names of more than 4,500 fallen soldiers that were displayed on tombstones along NW 8th Avenue early Saturday.
The 9-inch by 12-inch mock tombstones lined the curb of NW 8th Avenue in neat rows of four across and more than a mile in length near Westside Park.
The tombstones, separated by date signs, show the deaths that occurred throughout each stage of America's war on terrorism.
Each stone gives the soldiers name, age, birth date, rank and hometown as well as a flag if the soldier was from this area.
The demonstration continues through Monday evening and is part of the Veterans for Peace's message about the increasing casualties stemming from the war on terrorism.
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.
More photos of the VFP display in Gainesville thanks to Benjamin Kite. Posted on FLICKr. the last photo in this series is a panoramic view - follow the instructions above the photo to view it properly. Really cool!
