Arlington West refers to the “temporary cemetery” itself, as well as Veterans for Peace’s project of installing the temporary memorial. The name, Arlington West, was given to the memorial by WWII veteran Ted Berlin and reflects the name of the national cemetery of the United States, Arlington National Cemetery, a burial place of honor for fallen war heroes. Arlington National Cemetery is the location of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and is also the final resting place for John F. Kennedy. Arlington West—in a manner similar to “real” cemeteries—is intended by the project organizers to be a place to mourn, reflect, contemplate, grieve, and meditate, to honor and acknowledge those who have lost their lives, and to reflect upon the costs of war.

The memorial in Santa Barbara, California, which was first put together on November 2, 2003 by local activist Stephen Sherrill, was soon adopted by the local chapter of Veterans for Peace. It is installed each Sunday by a team of volunteers on the beach immediately west of Stearns Wharf. Visitors walking to the tourist attractions on the wharf have a clear view, from the boardwalk, along the beach with the white crosses in the foreground. From the walkway, visitors can see a flag-draped coffin and more than 3,000 crosses, made of wood, which are intended to resemble and represent traditional military grave markers. In addition to the simulated graveyard, a placard listing all the fallen American military personnel since the U.S. invaded and occupied Iraq is prominently displayed; this list is updated weekly. Due to logistical constraints, the number of new crosses was halted at just over 3000 even though the latest death toll has exceeded 4400. Adjacent to the placards is a sign containing the message: “At 3000 crosses, the Arlington West Memorial is 141 feet wide and 310 feet long. A memorial for the Iraqi dead would be 141 feet wide and 12.8 miles long.”

The second Arlington West was installed in Santa Monica, California on February 15, 2004, a Sunday. It was built on the sand just north of the pier at Santa Monica Beach, “as a way to acknowledge the costs and consequences of the addiction to war as an instrument of international policy” (quote from Veterans for Peace). Like the initial memorial in Santa Barbara, it has been reinstalled each Sunday and Fourth of July since its inception.

Because of the difficulty of finding out the faiths and/or philosophies of the people who died, the cross (a common symbol of Christianity) was selected to be used as a default marker. But both memorials have many markers that are the Star of David or crescents.

Approximately twenty similar memorials have been installed in various locations across the United States and on the West Coast of the U.S.. The San Diego Veterans For Peace, Chapter 91, installs the memorial 6-8 times/year on beaches and parks in San Diego County.

On December 14, 2003 Arlington West Santa Barbara was illuminated by 455 candles in red cups for the city’s annual Parade of Lights. The cups glowed a blood red while the light projected upward from the cups caused the white crosses to glow in a flickering, living light. Photojournalists on hand commented that the sight of the illuminated memorial “upstaged the Parade of Lights” (boats in the harbor decked out in Christmas lights). The display drew thousands of spectators during the two hours the candles burned.

Veterans For Peace, an official non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 1985 includes men and women veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and other conflicts, as well as peacetime veterans. The group has published a ‘how-to’ for organising, planning and constructing and erecting Arlington West. Several other Memorials have been erected by chapters of Veterans for Peace and other groups.

In the spring and summer of 2005, a similar Arlington West display was taken on a U.S. tour, being installed at places such as Ohio’s Kent State University (for the 35th commemoration of the tragedy of May 4, 1970), as well as at “Camp Casey,” the site of anti-war protestor Cindy Sheehan’s vigil outside the ranch of President George W. Bush near Crawford, Texas.

In August 2010, the members of the Santa Barbara chapter of Veterans for Peace decided to replace the traditional Arlington West memorial with one which focuses on the War in Afghanistan. The 3000+ crosses for the casualties in Iraq were removed and replaced with 1200+ plastic tombstones representing the fatalities in Afghanistan, ending the memorial dedicated specifically to the Iraq war.

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Actually I have nightmare every day and I am scared to death as to the outcome, my bothers and fist cousin keep threatening to evict and move my mother to a small one bedroom in Queens. They have hired two attorneys that are specialists (That are being paid by my father’s estate) that are against my mother and I. Everyday we read about elderly women prayed upon and raped in nursing homes, caregivers that overmedicate and abuse their patients. Cruelty that is unjust and one of the consuming and overwhelming reasons that my grandparents and parents worked so hard to flee for their lives and from the nightmares of the ghettos of Russia, Away from the fear of death and bullying of the “Pogroms”. My mother’s father never left his home for over two years. My mother still has nightmares of the soldiers coming to her door asking if they were Jewish, while they were hiding in a closet in the dark, afraid for their lives. I hold her hand while she is going through this recurring nightmare. As I am next to her I too start crying at the fear and cruelty I am living for giving up my life to move back home and live like a child again and questioning everyday if I did and do the right thing. Desperately trying and searching for approval from friends and acquaintances, as family members only see me as blocking them from getting their money. Fearing that this will happen to me , knowing I have hostile trustees that will get back at me later. Just as my mother has fears when I’m not around. I fear for my mother’s life, as it will take a sheriff, doctors, sedation and the police ambulance before I will let anyone move my mother from her home of 46 years. I have sleepless nights about the possibility of that outcome. I read everyday about supposedly close families and then the disgusting family situations. On the other hand I think and pray that my mother would be better off not being here on earth and seeing the obvious. Nobody comes to break bread with her anymore. My mother was nobodies fool. She always had the ability to go right to the heart. I know she still sees. Relatives call at night to make their obligatory daily call and she says “I love you, when are you coming to see me?” and then the caretakers and I hear their bullshit answers. On the other hand I am frustrated and confused that I have this conflicting feelings.

Didn’t I come from the same womb? Is there a right or wrong? I thought everyone was taught to honor their mother and father. Didn’t they get the same love I did? Why do I feel so alone in the family? Am I right? Am I doing the right thing? Why do I let that Devil and Angel struggle throughout me everyday? Why don’t I walk away, let them move my mother, hire cheaper care givers, overmedicate her, sell the apartment, call home everyday, get the same amount of money, live my life, my mother’s 96 – she lived her life, liquidate all the assets of the estate now, so when my mother dies everything is done . No body will be obligated to come from Florida, Syracuse, California, Kansas City, Delaware , Brooklyn , Rockville Center after the funeral.

Additional thoughts

My mother and father earned the money, not I or my brothers.

The agony of the indecision and fear of not knowing

I am on an emotional roll a coaster every day going through the gamut of emotions.

I am afraid to go out grocery shopping or to a meeting for fear that my brother’s will have her taken out by medication and force.

My note to my dad – laid on his heart , under the shroud in his casket

My Aunt Darolyn suggested I write a note and put him under his shroud next to his heart so he could read it on his way up to heaven. I also said I will email him in heaven on Facebook. I placed a bell in your left hand and said “if you need me for anything on your way to heaven, just ring the bell and I’ll be right there. I also placed a black Grenadine tie, that you love so much. Ties were your way out of Palooka-ville and making a better life for you, mother and your family.

Errol

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