DFAM Holds Its Eighth Successful "Arlington Miami"

by Simon Rose [courtesy of Blog for America]

Once again, members of Democracy for America Miami-Dade, together with the Veterans for Peace Miami chapter, hosted an amazingly moving and successful "Arlington Miami" memorial to honor the sacrifice of United States troops who have fallen during the occupation of Iraq.

Over Veterans Day weekend, the two groups set up close to three thousand memorial markers in downtown Miami's beautiful Bayfront Park. The highly visible venue provided the opportunity for thousands of citizens of Miami and tourists to stop and see the human cost the occupation is taking.

George Bush has declared the occupation of Iraq to be "the central front of the war on terror" but immediately after 911 asked Americans to sacrifice by going shopping. It is the intent of DFAM to bring to focus that what occurs daily in Iraq has very real costs that we must confront and debate in an intelligent way. To simply go shopping would be a disservice to the troops in Iraq and to the principles on which our country was founded.

One such cost was plainly present during the entire time the display was up as Carlos and Melida Arrendondo stood vigil next to the grave marker for their son Alex, who died in Iraq in 2004 at the age of twenty. The Arrendondos spent much of the time, patiently, passionately, and with great dignity answering questions about their son, and articulating the range of emotions they continue to go through since they first heard the news of their son's death.

Arlington Miami received plenty of media coverage, adding to the many mentions in the media this display has garnered over the three years that DFAM has been hosting it in Miami.

A short documentary of Arlington Miami was made in October of 2006 and can be seen on Youtube. Or just press play below: