By Rachel Sene & Jay Johnson
We spent three hours at the Arlington West beach display on Sunday (May 27) and Memorial Day. We talked to a cross-section of Americans and foreign visitors, including folks from Tasmania, Atlanta, South Carolina and New York. Varied professions: Teachers, current and ex-military (and families) who have recently returned from Iraq duty; one officer had lost 11 members of his unit. He sat in the middle of the sand, next to a cross, silently, hugging his wife and child for 20 minutes.
I wish Bill Bauer (“Arlington West exploits the dead,” May 28, page 4) was with me as I watched a sandy-footed, bikini-clad teenager happily walking back from the beach with her two male friends. She approached the photo display of the first 1,000 Americans who died. Stopped. Stared. Then drew deathly silent. She made a quick call on a cell. She paused and was on the brink of tears. I approached. “Does this mean something to you?” I said. After checking the list for a name from all who died, she replied, “I was at his funeral two weeks ago.” For a moment, I couldn’t breathe and choked back tears.
I want Bill (Bauer) to know: None of these folks made a critical comment or felt offended. My wife and I experienced heartfelt, tearful, and passionate personal conversations and emotions. We don’t share Bauer’s view. Bill would be welcome to come down any Sunday, spend a few hours talking to visitors and the veterans, as we did, and reconsider his “arms-length” view of feeling offended or “over the top.” I urge him to reconsider.
Our city should feel justly proud of this nationally acclaimed, serious, respectful, touching presentation of the true cost of this indefensible, unwinnable, bankrupting, lied-to-from-the-start, devastating unprovoked attack and occupation of Iraq.
The “Arlington West” presentation created by dedicated military veterans deserves our respect and appreciation, not criticism.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 5, 2007. Read the original PDF.