By Kitty Joyner Arlington West volunteer
(Re: Bill Bauer’s column “Arlington West exploits the dead,” May 28, page 4) As a volunteer at Arlington West I have heard this accusation before; twice from people who entered the memorial screaming and kicking crosses out of the sand. I guess that is one way to show the disrespectful Arlington West volunteers that they’re being disrespectful. So, Bill, thank you for your restraint!
Bill takes many swipes at us, but I cannot help but suspect that he is writing from the safety of his own “Green Zone.” So I would like to invite Bill to actually come down to visit Arlington West some Sunday morning, introduce himself and meet the volunteers. I will personally take him along the sand to some particular crosses bearing mementos from families of the fallen. That is if I’m not too busy proselytizing, politicizing, or being a “manipulative promoter of Arlington West.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 4, 2007. Read the original PDF.