Memorial to American soldiers by a DU member

[Skinner]

This article was sent to me by Kim Miles, who is an avid DU reader but doesn't have enough posts to start a thread yet. Check it out...

Front yard still has room for memorial flags
Memorial for the fallen in Iraq war over a year old
by DREW BRACKEN
Sentinel Correspondent



As the casualties mount in Iraq, so do the flags in front of 2072 Welsh Hills Road.

James Franchello, who owns the property, and his neighbor and coworker, Kim Miles, have dutifully added one flag for each U.S. soldier's death since they began the memorial in December 2004 -- and neither one of them can talk about it without choking back tears.

The flags represent the soldiers who have died, both said, but it has greater significance than that, according to Franchello.

"It's farther reaching than just those people that have died," he said. "There are a lot of bright futures that have been snuffed out by this. And those people, who remembers them? I bet most people in this country don't even know how many have died. You can't help but think about not just the person that flag represents but the families that are never going to be the same."

More...

http://www.granvillesentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060223/COMMUNITIES02/602230316&SearchID=73236934354897

[MissB]

1. Numbers have greater impact when they are represented

by something visual.

Well done, Kim.

[SammyBlue]

62. Agreed. . .but as with Camp Casey, how long before some

jignostic Freeper Bushbot decides to take it upon themselves to show how "patriotic" they are and destroy a simple, yet very meaningful, tribute.

Well done Kim. We're all very proud of you.

[Taxloss]

2. It takes displays likethat to bring home what the numbers really mean.

Thanks Kim.

:yourock:

[Catherine Vincent]

4. So true.

That's why that idiot in the pickup truck in Crawford, Texas plowed down the white crosses. He didn't want the people to be reminded of the number of our soldiers that have died at the hands of *.

[underpants]

3. |

:patriot:

[babylonsister]

5. Welcome to DU, Kim, and thank you for doing this! It's such a

lovely gesture that gets people's attention and then gets them to think. :thumbsup: :patriot:

[Coexist]

6. thanks, Kim - that is beautiful and sad.

:hug:

[johnnie]

7. Thank you Kim

It is a touching display of remembrance for those who have lost their lives and the thousands more family members that are affected.

[BurtWorm]

8. That's a stunning photo...

:patriot:

[blm]

9. thankyou Kim - very moving.

.

[fooj]

10. The POWER of an image...

:cry:

[blondeatlast]

11. Incredible--thaks for this wonderful memorial. Kick. nt

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. Oh my. That really makes a statement.

Doesn't it?:cry:

[qanda]

13. That's so moving

Welcome to DU Kim.

[immoderate]

14. Kim, thanks for going that extra mile.

Your efforts are appreciated and ultimately I hope they will make the difference.

Welcome to DU.

--IMM

[roguevalley]

15. locals did this with yellow flags every weekend for

a few months and even with only 2000 it was appalling. I hug you, Kim.

[ohtransplant]

16. Devastating photo!

I can escape thinking how every flag represents someone's son, daughter, husband, wife, neighbor, friend, etc... The reality is chilling...:cry:

[Just Me]

17. Oh! That tugs hard on my heart-strings.

I appreciate their commitment to that memorial. :patriot:

[BikeWriter]

18. K&R and shedding a tear for my fallen Brothers and Sisters.

[Mnemosyne]

19. That's a very good thing. Those gone are remembered

each day by all that pass.

Thanks Kim for sharing!Welcome to DU!:hi:

And thanks Skinner for helping her out!:hug: Ya' old softie!

[Canuckistanian]

20. They remind me of poppies

Good work, Kim!

[TahitiNut]

57. I had the same thought. "In Flanders Field ...."

:cry:

[Tsiyu]

21. K & R

:kick:

[peace13]

22. Thank you Skinner and everyone here!

Thank you for all of your support. You guys are great. It's emotionally hard to maintain this memorial but in some ways it is a labor of love. After years of reading DU I finally made a post. Thanks!

Peace and love, Kim

[Skinner]

23. Hey, look everyone! It's Kim!

I'm glad you posted.

[annabanana]

24. Welcome to DU, Kim

Your memorial is very powerful.

Each flag is a whole life, and the lives of every person that the fallen soldier touched. Each flag is infant, toddler, adolescent, young adult, brother, sister, husband, wife, mother, father... infinitely irreplaceable.

[karlrschneider]

25. A heartfelt welcome to DU, Kim!

And thank for doing all that.
:pals:

[NMDemDist2]

26. thanks Kim and welcome! your tribute is moving and heartbreaking

:hug:

[ninkasi]

29. Peace and love for you, too Kim

It's great to have you here.:hi: :hi: :hi: :hi:

[Nye Bevan]

31. Best first post ever

Welcome.

[stevedeshazer]

34. Thank YOU, Kim

Please post more often.

Peace to you,

Steve

[Solly Mack]

39. Thank you, Kim

[JNelson6563]

40. I bow to you

A most noble effort. :patriot:

[dogday]

41. Thank you for remembering our Soldiers Kim

My son is in Tikrit and as a parent of a soldier, I want to extend a personal thank you for your efforts..

[Misunderestimator]

42. Thank you, Kim.

:patriot:

[LeftNYC]

46. Thank you for what you are doing...

It means a lot to us who have friends and family in harm's way for nothing. Thanks!

[stepnw1f]

47. Wow... Big Welcome to You Kim

We need more peace and love around here. I sure could learn a few things to keep my anger in check. Great memorial...

Thank you for your effort.:hi:

[kentuck]

51. Welcome Kim !

We need you.

[flygal]

55. Thank you for your devotion

[myrna minx]

59. Peace and love to you for you're beautiful memorial.

:hug:

[UrbScotty]

60. Peace and love to you too, Kim.

:hug:

[SammyBlue]

63. Thank you, Kim. Thank you from the bottom of my cynical heart.

n/t

[bigwillq]

65. Thank you for this Kim!

Welcome to DU! :hi: :hug:

[democrank]

27. Bless you, Kim.

Welcome to DU.

[Rainscents]

28. Thank you, Kim!

I love your dedication to love for this country, soldiers and their family.

Thank you skinner for posting this! :patriot:

[ScreamingMeemie]

30. ***I think this should go on the Homepage Skinner****

I'd recommend it, but it's the Lounge. Heck, I'll do it anyway.

[Skinner]

45. Done.

(Psst... You're in GD.)

[Cha]

32. How Caring of those

people in Ohio to do this for the fallen soldiers in Iraq. All those beautiful lives snuffed out by the neocons greed and lies!

[ClayZ]

33. Most excellent first post!

Welcome! Thanks for sharing your memorial!



:hi: :grouphug:

[NoSheep]

35. Inspiring.

:hug:

[stop the bleeding]

38. Very Inspiring indeed!

O8)

[Minnesota Libra]

36. A perfect reminder of why these idiots need to go NOW .......

.....it is SO SAD- there are no words. :cry:

[AlienGirl]

37. That brought tears to my eyes reading it

:cry:

This misadministration has cost us more than we will ever know, in the potential of all those young lives...

Tucker

[Daphne08]

43. I feel for the families of those soldiers so much and for our troops

still in Iraq.

[wicket]

44. Beautiful, just beautiful

:kick:

[mtnsnake]

48. Thanks, Kim. I lost a very special young friend who was killed in

Afghanistan in the summer of 2003. I couldn't tell from the article if your flags also included soldiers who died in that country or not. Anyway, it's so heartening to see what you're doing to remember these soldiers with your placement of flags. It brings tears to my eyes. My friend was killed by a sharpshooter's bullet and died bravely in the arms of another soldier while they were rushing him to get help in a helicopter. He played football with my son in high school, and he was a good friend of my entire family. I can tell you that his death alone affected hundreds of people and touched thousands more. It makes me cry every time I think about him, he was such a good kid. It's hard to imagine how many lives have been affected by the loss of all the people represented by all of your flags.

Your memorial is wonderful.

[Maine-ah]

49. the same thing was done up here

ROCKPORT (Aug 3, 2004): An impromptu roadside monument to fallen servicemen is about to become visible to more motorists.
Tom Sadowski's Route 52 tribute to Americans who have died in Iraq, which consists of one orange flag for each dead soldier, was relocated from Lincolnville to Route 1 in Rockport late Sunday afternoon. Sadowski began the tribute on Memorial Day, recording some 800 deaths. On Sunday, Aug. 1, 913 orange construction flags fluttered on Sadowski's lawn.


http://www.villagesoup.com/Community/story.cfm?storyid=24742&CFID=6492519&CFTOKEN=46785650

[pstans]

50. Great idea

I wish I could do something like this. Keep it up.

:patriot:

[JitterbugPerfume]

52. Bless you KIm

you are beautiful both inside and out

[peace13]

53. Thank you

DU your support is so wonderful. Words cannot do justice to how it feels. Thank you for being here! A note of thanks to our local newspaper, a staff that has maintained interest in the memorial. As it turns out it takes a village...and more.

mtnsnake, thank you for your heart wrenching post. I am so sorry for your loss. Our memorial is to all American soldiers, those living and those that have selflessly given their lives for ours. We use the 'official count' of soldiers lost on the Iraq field as a marker. It is impossible to know the true number of soldiers that have died in our name. We remember also those that have been injured in our name. Their fight will be never ending and our debt to them is immeasurable.

Peace and love,

Kim Miles
peace13

[gademocrat7]

54. Welcome to DU Kim

I applaud and admire your efforts.

[AuntiBush]

56. Isn't It Amazing...

how FReeps enjoy those "Support the Troops" and "Bush/Cheney" stickers plastered all over the back of the cars, as a form of support for our troops. But look at this woman, going out of her way on her and a neighbors property to show the saddness involved.

Shows a remarkable difference and a lesson in there somewhere to be learned by all.

[HiSee]

58. A very beautiful and sad representation. Thank you

My soldier is a flight medic stationed in Iraq. I think your flags represent a horrible and unnecessary loss to the United States. The men and women who have died were more than just Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen, they were husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, children, siblings, family, friends, neighbors, teachers, little league coaches, community volunteers, musicians, writers, artists, comedians, historians, inventors, countrymen. Our country is much poorer for the loss of them.

[MadMichDem]

61. I grew up in Granville and any place on Welsh Hills Road is a

beautiful spot for a memorial. I used to ride my horse, Billie, on this road all the time. Graduated from Granville High in '74.

Thank you, Kim, for doing this. (my name is also Kim)

[Zomby Woof]

64. An amazing and moving effort

Thank you.

[tirechewer]

66. A lovely and moving tribute....

It is moving on so many levels. Visually striking, representing great losses both to the families and to the rest of this country. Who knows what those lives could have given us? I am also very moved by Kim's selflessness and kindness in doing this and keeping it up so lovingly.

On the most visceral level, each small flag represents a huge void that was once filled with a living vibrant human being who is now absent. So many absences and such a huge loss.

I for one will never forget any of the lives lost in this war; American, Iraqi or other nationality. They were robbed of time and life by people who haven't the slightest concept of humanity. George W. Bush and his life hating supporters.