I took these photos on September 22 and 23, 2007 at "Arlington Midwest" in Grand Circus Park, downtown Detroit. The name Arlington Midwest is based on Arlington Cemetery in Virginia where America's military combat veterans are buried. When the Detroit Area Peace with Justice Network (DAPJN) hosted this travelling installation, it included 4234 mock wooden tombstones planted in the ground, each with the name, age, hometown, date and place of death of the U.S. men and women who have fought and died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, these numbers grow every day that U.S. troops remain in these wartorn countries. There is also a section of tombstones for those returning combat veterans who have committed suicide, at least those we know about. Arlington Midwest is not just about American deaths; it is also about the hundreds of thousands--at least 650,000--Iraqi men, women and children who have lost their lives in the American war on and occupation of their country. There are poles planted in a circle around the fountain in the center of this urban park. On each pole is a typed list of all the names and ages of the Iraqi victims of war who are known to have died. One is asked to walk around and around this circle in meditation on the hundreds of thousands of victims whose names we do not know. Arlington West is not a political statement: it is a reminder of the human cost of war.

By the way, I have posted the story of our encounter with the Iraq war veteran whose anger turned to grief. Simply click on the thumbnail image and scroll down to read it. And to read more about Ray--what I guess could be called an Epilogue--click here.