A memorializing day for all war dead

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A memorializing day for all war dead
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A memorializing day for all war dead
This Memorial Day, members of the 8th Day Center for Justice remembered both the U.S. and Iraqi war dead in a commemoration at the Federal Plaza in Chicago's Loop business district.

On Thursday, May 27, the group, a coalition of Catholic religious, clergy, and lay people, placed over 100 coffins in the plaza in remembrance of the lives of more than 800 U.S. soldiers* and well over 10,000 Iraqis** who have been killed since the beginning of the current Iraq war. For two hours, the names of those who had died were read.

Each coffin represented the death of 100 individual persons. Eight coffins representing U.S. military personnel were draped with American flags. One hundred coffins representing Iraqi citizens were draped in black.

"We recognize that this did not tell the whole story," read a statement from 8th Day's website. "At this memorial, we grieved the impact that this war has had on many other people. This includes, but is not limited to, the following persons:

"Military personnel killed in action, from other countries, including 59 from Great Britain, 18 from Italy, 11 from Spain, 6 from the Ukraine, 6 from Bulgaria, 4 from Poland, and 2 from Thailand, as well as soldiers from El Salvador, the Netherlands, Demark, Estonia and other places.*

"Untold thousands of Iraqi soldiers killed, some reportedly forced to fight at gunpoint.

"Dozens of Iranian and Arab pilgrims killed as they visited holy sites in Iraq.

"U.S. soldiers of other nationalities killed, such as the Mexican-born Jesus Suarez de Solar, who were promised citizenship in exchange for fighting for the United States. Jesus’s father, Francisco, buried him under the Mexican flag.

"Numerous civilian contractors and mercenary soldiers killed. Many Iraqis tortured by U.S. soldiers in the prisons of Iraq. Plus, over 4300 U.S. soldiers* and many thousands of Iraqis seriously wounded.

"Finally, at this memorial, we grieved the impact this war has had on the family and friends of those who have died or were injured. For them, life will never be the same."

*As of May 24, 2004: U.S. coalition death and casualty statistics drawn from the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count.

**As of May 21, 2004: Iraqi deaths estimated from Iraq Body Count. In reality, these numbers represent only the deaths from this current phase of the 14 year-long, U.S.-led war against Iraq. Unmentioned are those hundreds of thousands who have died from the 1991 phase called the "Persian Gulf War," 13 years of economic sanctions and repeated bombings, especially during the time the US and Great Britain inforced "no fly zones."

8th Day recomends these actions:
1. Call/write President Bush to bring the troops home now—202-456-1414; president@whitehouse.gov.

2. Call/write your Congressperson/Senators to stop funding this illegal and immoral war—202-224-3121, ask for your congressperson/senators.

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