Veterans for Peace Set Up 3,000 Tombstones in Miami

Honoring Soldiers Killed in Iraq

This Memorial Day, South Beach, Florida, is getting a glimpse of reality of the soldiers that have been lost in the Iraq war. Veterans for Peace in Miami has set up 3,000 tombstones in honor of those soldiers lost in battle in Iraq as reported by WSVN.

The memorial is located at 10th Street and Ocean Avenue in downtown Miami Beach. Sam Feldman of Veterans for Peace told WSVN that the names of some of the soldiers were placed on the headstones. Feldman is hoping that people who pass by the memorial will remember those who fight for our freedom, whether they be alive or dead as reported by WSVN.

This is not the first time Veterans for Peace has set up a memorial for the fallen soldiers. Over the past two years, the group has set the memorial up seven times. Feldman told WSVN: "The impact of the people walking by, you see people break down in tears. We have some tombstones that are left blank intentionally because veterans come and write the names of their fallen buddies and they write a personal message."

As of March 24, 2007 casualties in the Iraq was are 3,228 soldiers. Out of the 3, 228 soldiers who have given their life for our freedom, 2,216 soldiers were in the Army, 909 soldiers were Marines, 71 soldiers were in the Navy, 31 soldiers were in the Air Force, and 1 United States Coast Guard soldier. According to the Pentagon, nearly 25,378 U.S soldiers have been wounded as well.

As the Iraq war enters it's 5th year with the United States leading forces are battling the insurgency and hoping to stop the violence. By the end of 2007, more than 20,000 more U.S. troops will be headed to the area to help with a new security plan. However the near daily bombings and deaths are definitely taking a toll on the people who are left behind and support those in the war.

In May of 2007, over 60 U.S. soldiers have been killed in combat. Though the names of the soldiers are important to remember, the numbers speak for themselves. Let us all remember on this Memorial Day 2007 all of those fallen soldiers who have given their life up for our freedom.

SOURCE : Miami Chapter of Veterans for Peace honors soldiers killed in Iraq with memorial - WSVN