Someone Else's Son Was Once Three
My two days in Santa Barbara are sadly coming to a close. I strolled State Street, fantasized about winning the lottery and moving up here, and overall enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. Despite all the scenic beauty, I can't help but keep thinking about our accidental visit to "Arlington West" on Sunday.I had no idea that folks put down a cross and a flag for every soldier that has been killed in Iraq. The veterans that run this set it up every Sunday morning and take it down every Sunday afternoon.
We stumbled upon the memorial during an afternoon stroll along the beach. There were plenty of photographers out, busily taking pictures of the entire scene. One young man, Brad McIntyre, shot this photo of my youngest son picking up the flags.
How lucky I am that my son's face isn't on one of these crosses.
Comments
I am grateful every day that my son (and daughters) are not on crosses.
We need to make a world in which no mother's child goes to war again.
And the picture is quite powerful.
I always appreciate your posts.
I spent some time with my other son, reading the crosses of some of the soldiers. (As a new reader, he wants to read everything nowadays.) He couldn't believe how many people had died and how they died. He was shocked.
The innocence of children makes it so clear how we harden our hearts to war, to suffering, to poverty. I really think if more people saw stuff like this, a whole lot would change.
I think we need to go witness this for ourselves.
How touching.
How beautiful.
A good reason to work for peace.