Ivan's Place
In honor of the greatest moralist who never lived
Copyright © 2004 by Bill Becker

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Arlington Midwest Iraq War Memorial

[Note: The pictures and commentaries below show the evolution of the Arlington Midwest Iraq Memorial. Located in Lake Delton, Wisconsin, the memorial was a project of its caretakers, Marty Preston, Debbie and Jim Kinder, Judy and Bob Pike, Mary and Harvey Larson, Hiroshi and Arlene Kanno, and Bert and Pearl Sylvander. The Memorial was apolitical.

Two years ago or so, the owner of the property needed it for other purposes, and the memorial was dismantled. I had assumed that those who planned to visit it would make contact with its creators as shown below before driving out to see it. My aplogies to those who did not.

I am gratified to learn occsionally that this webpage continues to provide comfort for families whose sons and daughters died in Iraq. I will keep this page on the website as a tribute to our fallen soldiers and to those who cared so deeply about honoring their sacrifice.        Bill Becker — February, 2008.]

From the AMW brochure dated summer 2005.


This summer we have constructed a special memorial to honor the young men and women from Wisconsin and Illinois who have lost their lives in Iraq.

Our memorial was inspired by a similar project in Santa Monica, California called Arlington West. Every weekend, since the summer of 2003, volunteers have constructed a site of small white crosses on the beach, one for every soldier killed in Iraq.

We invite you to pay a visit to our smaller memorial here in town, to view the pictures of our comrades, to leave a comment, a poem or a prayer.


TAPS

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Then good night, peaceful night,
Til the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night.

LOCATION

Corner of S. Burritt Ave. and W. Delavan St. in Lake Delton, Wisconsin. From the center of the Dells, follow Broadway (Rt 23 West) out of town toward Lake Delton, take a left on Wisc. Dells Parkwy (Rt 23 West) at next major light out of town. Drive 2.5 miles to corner of W. Munroe Ave. and WI Dells Pkwy. Go right on Munroe 2 blocks, turn left on S. Burritt Ave. by the Phillips gas station. Memorial is 1 block on your left at W. Delavan St.


For more info, you may contact Marty at: 608-254-1126, or: ArlingtonMidwest@yahoo.com





"At the rising of the sun and at its going down,
We remember them.

At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of Winter,
We remember them.

At the opening of buds and in the rebirth of Spring,
We remember them.

At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of Summer,
We remember them.

At the rustling of leaves and the beauty of Autumn,
We remember them.

At the beginning of the year and when it ends,
We remember them.

As long as we live, they too will live;
for they are now a part of us,
as we remember them."

—The Gates of Prayer, Reform Jewish Prayerbook



A Soldier's Prayer
By Heather F. Kready 10/20/04

Remember me as i walk away
for you i lived and died this day
And in this moment i can recall
that as i fell i still stood tall
Into the falling night i cry
tell them i love them and tell them why

I am not there to see them grow
or curb the wild oats they sow
I am the one with arms held wide
even in death not stepping aside
For god and country i am here
your pain i hold i feel your fear
Freedom is my gift to you
as i left, this price i knew
I am so cold and so afraid
and as the fear begins to fade
I think of those to follow me
to give their lives to liberty
As i taste death's embrace
i pray for strength and a bit of grace
Let me die as i have lived
leaving nothing to forgive
My eyes are heavy let me rest
I know now i have done my best

(Composed in memory of those who have died in Iraq.)








"War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children."    — Jimmy Carter







"Death is not extinguishing the Light; it is putting out the lamp because the Dawn has come."
— Rabindranath Tagore


2006 — Memorial Day


U.S. military deaths as of May 27, 2006.



Reading the names.


Veterans Buzz and Dick.


Laying out the cross locations.


Setting the crosses.


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Page updated February 19, 2008