Driving East on 8th Avenue in Gainesville, Florida, betrween 34th and 23rd streets, you come to the Memorial Mile organized by Local chapter 14/78 of Veterans for Peace, an impressive extended tribute to the American troops (Soldiers, Marines, Naval Personal and Airman) killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Its composed of 4577 individual grave markers, 4077 from Iraq and 500 from Afghanistan, four abrest, 8"x12" tombstomes, bearing the name, age, date of death, hometown and rank of each of the dead.
Just driving by takes a while, long enough for the message to sink in. [If you hit the link, don't miss the traffic sign as the road narrows toward the end].
On the Westbound side of the Avenue there's an exhibit of 125 hand-sewn banners from all over the world and 2 stands with volunteers and information.
The grave markers are grouped by year, country of death and date of death. The last signs read: Iraq 2009, Afghanistan 2009. Unaccompanied as yet by grave markers.
This is the second year that Gainesville Vets for Peace has done this Memorial. Last year it was up for one day, this year for three.
Finely conceived. Pointed. Great work, folks. Thanks!