Posted on 03/13/2005 11:28:54 AM PST by NormsRevenge
ESCONDIDO, Calif. - Laid out in rows stretching longer than a football field, 1,513 pairs of black military boots gave a sunsplashed park the quiet, somber mood of a cemetery.
The traveling exhibit, a reminder of the U.S. troops lost in Iraq (news - web sites) , arrived on the West Coast this week as divisive as the war itself — especially for the families of the fallen men and women.
To some of the families, it is a cathartic, fitting memorial in a nation they say seems largely anesthetized to the pain of a distant war. For others, it's an outrage tormenting them in their grief.
"There's a difference between honoring our fallen and using them as pawns," said Georgette Frank, who believes the exhibit defamed the memory of her son, Marine Lance Cpl. Phillip Frank, by linking him with an anti-war agenda he never would have supported.
The "Eyes Wide Open" exhibit, created by the American Friends Service Committee, a branch of the pacifist Quaker church, began its nationwide tour in Chicago with 500 boots — then the war's death toll.
The exhibit arrived in downtown San Diego on Wednesday, but space was limited there because of what the county and organizers said was a misunderstanding over a permit. It was moved Thursday to Escondido, northeast of San Diego.
Nine families have donated their sons' military boots for the exhibit, and others have provided time and support. Most of the boots come from military surplus stores.
Cindy Sheehan calls the exhibit a wonderful memorial to her 24-year-old son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, who died last year in an ambush in Sadr City. She has left tissues, notes and many tears on the boots that bear her son's name and plans to donate his boots later this month.
Sheehan, who lives in Vacaville, said the exhibit is also a fitting reminder in a nation that has banned media coverage of America's war dead as their remains arrive in flag-draped caskets.
"If some people look at it and they're offended by it maybe they should be," she said. "I'm in unbearable pain every second of every day because of only one pair of those empty boots."
About two dozen families, however, have asked that their loved ones' names be removed from the exhibit. The committee said it removes names from the boots on request, although the names are still read aloud during events.
Frank said she and her husband believe the "naive" peace movement only encourages insurgents in Iraq with the message that continued violence will lead the United States to withdraw its troops. She said her son, felled by a sniper's bullet last year in Fallujah at age 20, was committed to bringing freedom and democracy to Iraq.
"How can I be against the war when this is what my son went to do?" she asked. "And you know what, he succeeded on the Sunday when the Iraqis voted."
Christine M. Dybevik of Coos Bay, Ore., was angered that the name of her son, Marine Lance Cpl. Gary Van Leuven, was used without her permission. Van Leuven, 20, was killed last year in a fierce fight in Husaba along the Syrian border.
"This road back from hell is hard enough without having to defend my son's name in a political arena," Dybevik said. "Our sons made the ultimate sacrifice and they did it for the American way of life and not for some political view."
Fernando Suarez del Solar of Escondido supports the exhibit, and donated the boots worn by his son, Lance Cpl. Jesus Suarez del Solar, 20, who was killed during the March 2003 Iraq invasion.
"We don't need more empty boots," Suarez del Solar said. "We need the people inside the shoes home with their families in peace."
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On the Net:
http://www.afsc.org/eyes/default.htm
Got Ribbons? :)
I won't post the photos of this 'event'...
Imelda had more shoes than this group.
White is black.
Our armed forces sacrifice their lives for a cause that this exhibit is directly opposed to. There is something very wrong with that.
These people can't put two thoughts together. They sit around with their bongs and come up with these hair brain schemes. they never actually THINK about the ramifications of their actions. It never crosses their little pea brains that some people are suffering and don't need to have their loved ones exploited for some cheap political stunt. commie/fascist/socialist/dums are pathetically hopeless.
Meanwhile, millions of people are dead or dying from AIDS and these nuts are opposed to abstinance education.
LOL.....somehow I just can't picture a bong smoking Quaker....yup, very pathetic and wrong headed.....but if they are peaceful, well it is a free country...only serves to remind me that there are clueless people out there....need to see it every once in awhile to help reinforce our true morals and values....
Actually, the people who ORGANIZE these things - just take advantage of the bong users and youth at colleges who have no direction [especially coming from lefty homes].
I have posted this info before - I believe this may be the same group here in the beach areas who were using little WHITE CROSSES with names on them and posting the crosses at mainly beach areas - in the very same style. However, they got hoisted on their own petard when the public complained that NO CROSSES could be posted on public property.
Seeing as how the method this group is using is very similar to the other group - I think they just changed from white crosses to black boots.
The pacifist Quakers are not fit to touch the boots of those that have died. They feel the shame of cowardice when they think of them so they tear down that which they died for.
"Frank said she and her husband believe the "naive" peace movement only encourages insurgents in Iraq with the message that continued violence will lead the United States to withdraw its troops. She said her son, felled by a sniper's bullet last year in Fallujah at age 20, was committed to bringing freedom and democracy to Iraq. "
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Exactly. This is NOT a respectful commemoration of fallen heroes, this exhibit is pushing an anti-US agenda, giving aid and comfort to the enemy, by sending the message, that if they would just kill a few more American soldiers, we will run home with the tail between our legs.
These people are not anti-war, they are anti-US and pro-terrorist, and pro-surrender to the terrorists.
According to them, nothing is worth fighting for, if anyone attacks us, we should just surrender "to keep the peace" and avoid war, we should just sit here and let the terrorists slaughter us, and never fight back.
How about a memorial of millions of baby booties? How about a memorial of men, women and children massacred in Waco? The only thing liberals can worship are tyrants, liars, murders and thiefs.......Talk about useful idiots....
<< Meanwhile, millions of people are dead or dying from AIDS and these nuts are opposed to abstinance education. >>
Meanwhile, scores of thousands of these and other people just as evil are infected dead or dying from HIV/AIDS and they and these nuts are busy before the die contaminating as much and as many of the world's blood supplies and drug addicts as they can in order to 'spead the burden' and hide that HIV/AIDS is the disease of choice of sodomists and of every other of their deviate and degenerate determination.
Wonder why they don't lay out boots for the many homocide
victims in California, and do something about that? They
would run out of space if they added the victims of
alchohol related deaths. But that wouldn't be PC.
Lovely....
I just posted this again, but it needs to be repeated. I know some military folks who are upset over it and if this exhibit comes to your city, please protest it. Don't support it. Thanks for putting this up.
Oh yes those peace loving pacifist QUAKERS. That don't give a damn about the families of the service members that have died protecting their right to be stupid.
These people are clueless and live in a world with rose colored glasses on. It helps to hide the blood.
And .. that's why the left can use them so easily .. they're clueless.
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