Veterans For Peace- LA Invites Public to Veterans Day Weekend Tribute at Arlington West

Friday, November 11th thru Sunday November 13th in Santa Monica
As Death Toll for US Troops Killed in Iraq Reaches 2,042

California Gold Star Families to Lead Procession of 100 Flag-Draped Coffins
Noon on Saturday, November 12th Will Be Highlight of Weekend

Call for 400 Volunteers to be Pallbearers

WHERE: Arlington West is North of the Santa Monica Pier on Beach
(Near Santa Monica Fwy and Pacific Coast Hwy.)

WHEN: Friday, November 11th thru Sunday, November 13th

NOTE: 400 Volunteers are needed at Arlington West just north of Santa Monica Pier at 9AM on Saturday, November 12th to carry 100 flag draped coffins on a procession thru Santa Monica.
To volunteer call Tonia at 310.455.2688/ tonia4@earthlink.net.

Just weeks after Americans learned of sad occasion of 2,000 US troops killed in Iraq, (2,042 to date) the country will mark Veterans Day Weekend Friday, November 11th thru Sunday, November 13th with ceremonies and tributes,

The Veterans for Peace - LA is sponsoring the Arlington West Memorial 'Veterans Day Weekend' program will run for three full days and two nights, Friday, November 11th thru Sunday, November 13th on the beach north of the Santa Monica Pier.

The emotional highlight of the weekend will be when a procession beginning at Arlington West will loop through the streets and sidewalks of Santa Monica, 400 pallbearers will carry 100 flag draped coffins. Over a half-dozen California Gold Star Family members will lead the march carrying large photos of their beloved husbands and children who were killed in Iraq War.

Crosses will be erected in the sand at Arlington West in Santa Monica by Veterans for Peace and volunteers north of Santa Monica Pier every Sunday for the last year and a half, as a tribute not only to the fallen U.S. soldiers in Iraq, but also to the countless innocent Iraqi civilians.

The flag draped coffins will rest in forefront, beside a 20 foot long board that names the dead servicemen and women. Visitors are invited to write the name of a soldier, any personal comment, and with a fresh flower, place an identity, photo to each cross and a candle.

Schedule for Arlington West Santa Monica Veterans Day Weekend
Friday, November 11th thru Sunday, November, 13th

WHERE: Arlington West is North of the Santa Monica Pier on Beach
(All events listed below are located at Arlington West unless designated)

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WHEN: FRIDAY, NOV 11TH

7:30AM: The memorial of over 2,000 crosses will be erected.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters has been invited to participate in setting up the memorial.

2:00 PM: Speakers will commemorate Veterans Day by reading the names of the soldiers killed at the top of each hour. A gong will sound as each name is read aloud.

WHO: Kevin McKeown, Santa Monica City Council Member

Abdul Henderson, Iraq War Veteran, featured in Michael Moore's film Fahrenheit 9/11

Tim Goodrich, Iraq and Afghanistan War Veteran

Bill Mitchell, son Army Sgt. Michael Mitchell, 25, of Porterville, CA was
killed in Sadr City Baghdad on April 4, 2004 (along with ‘Peace Mom,’ Cindy Sheehan’s son Casey.)

Joyce Riley, Gulf War Veteran

3:00 PM: Aztec Dancers will perform

4:30 PM: Candle light vigil ceremony will begin, 1,000 candles will illuminate a field of 2,000 plus crosses and continue burning through the night.

5:15 PM: Iraq Vet, Lance Corporal Jeff Key will play taps for the memorial.

6:15 PM: Two films will be projected on the wall of the pier: A Line in the Sand and The Ground Truth.

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WHEN: SATURDAY, NOV 12TH

7:30 -11:00 AM: 100 coffins will be assembled and draped with flags by Volunteers

NOON: Procession will begin at Arlington West and loop through the streets and sidewalks of Santa Monica, 400 pallbearers will carry 100 flag draped coffins. Gold Star Families will lead the march carrying large photos of their beloved husbands and children who were killed in Iraq:

Melanie House, of Simi Valley, CA, husband, HM3 John D. House, 28, was killed near Ar Rutbah in western Iraq on January 26, 2005

Vickie Castro, of Corona, CA, son Army Spc. Jonathan Castro, 21, was killed in Mosul, Iraq on December 21, 2004

Bill Mitchell, son Army Sgt. Michael Mitchell, 25, of Porterville, CA was
killed in Sadr City Baghdad on April 4, 2004 (along with ‘Peace Mom,’ Cindy Sheehan’s son Casey.)

Joanna Kubik, of Long Beach, CA, boyfriend Lance Cpl. Shane C. Swanberg, 24, of Kirkland, Wash, was killed in Ramadi, Iraq on Sept 15, 2005.

The Figueroa Family, of Lance Cpl. Luis A. Figueroa, 21, of Los Angeles, Ca, killed in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, on November 18, 2004

Along with numerous Iraq War Veterans and veterans from many previous wars. Elected officials, veterans, clergy, and the general public are all welcome to join as pallbearers.

12:45 PM: Four wreaths will be laid at the Veterans Monument in Palisades park by veterans from all wars. Members of the interfaith community will offer prayers of honor and remembrance at the monument.

2:00 PM: Performers and speakers to include:

Ron Kovic, wounded Vietnam Vet and author 'Born on 4th of July'

Melanie House, of Corona, CA, son Army Spc. Jonathan Castro, 21, was killed in Mosul, Iraq on December 21, 2004

Vickie Castro, of Corona, CA, son Army Spc. Jonathan Castro, 21, was killed in Mosul, Iraq on December 21, 2004

Mimi Kennedy, actor/activist

4:30 PM: Second candle light vigil will begin.

5:15PM: Iraq Vet, Lance Corporal Jeff Key will play taps.

6:15 PM: Arlington West the Documentary, by Sally Marr and Peter Dudar will be projected on the wall of the pier.

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WHEN: SUNDAY, NOV 13TH

9:30 - 10:00 AM: Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Director of Interfaith Inventions, will lead an interfaith Ceremony of Remembrance to commemorate the lives of those who perished and to comfort those who remain.

11:00 AM: Filmmaker Bruce Royer will screen A Line in the Sand (A documentary about Arlington West directed by Leszek Burzynski)
WHERE: Laemmle Monica 4-Plex Theatre, 1332 2nd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401.

WHO: Gold Star Father, Bill Mitchell, and Veterans for Peace member will speak immediately following the screening.

12:30 PM: The theater audience will walk a few blocks south to view the memorial first hand and enjoy light refreshments with the veterans, Gold Star Families and Arlington West supporters.

2:00 PM: Gold Star Mother Jane Bright, of West Hills, son Army Sgt. Evan Ashcraft was KIA in Mosul Iraq on July 24, 2003

Joined by members of the interfaith community who will speak and read names of the soldiers.

4:30 PM: The memorial will be put away until the following Sunday, when it will be resurrected, as it has persistently been displayed, every Sunday for the past year and a half.

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