More than 1,000 crosses line the sandy shore north of the Santa Monica Pier to represent American soldiers who have died in the Iraq War.
The ritual of placing the crosses on the shores of Santa Monica has been performed every Sunday since early 2004 by the local chapter of Veterans of Peace. The only difference is the number of crosses grows each week.
The project, dubbed “Arlington West,” is highly visible to the thousands of people who frequent the pier and beach. Organizers say they plan to continue the memorial until the war is over.
Many who stop at the memorial look at the detailed list of soldiers killed, often times seeing their own hometown. They’re given the opportunity to write a soldier’s name on a slip of paper and place it on a cross, along with flowers, pictures or personal mementos.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 30, 2005. Read the original PDF.