In 2006, Lafayette, California's hillside was covered in rows of white crosses commemorating Iraq War deaths. This was no ordinary monument. Many crosses included Stars of David, Islamic Crescents, Buddhist Wheels, personal mementos, photos, and flowers from loved ones. These emblems of faith and remembering offered a message of variety in sacrifice, where individuals who served and died had various backgrounds but shared the same fate. A sign showing the entire number of American soldiers fallen was added over time, highlighting the full cost of war.
Today, diversity manifests in culture, belief, and personal identity, but in death, those differences disappear into a common remembrance of service and sorrow. The Lafayette hillside honors individuals and reminds us that sacrifice transcends bureaucracy, borders, and regulations. Regardless of faith, these departed troops were bound by duty and remembering beyond politics. Honoring them recognizes that battle and remembrance are impartial.
Many thanks to Johnson and Louise Clark, Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center, Lamorinda Peace Group, and volunteers.