As a Vietnam veteran, father of an Iraq Marine veteran, and a man of conscience, I can only say that you miss the purpose of Arlington West.     

For those of us who have been there, done that, it is an honest expression of both our grief over the loss of another generation of our mostly young men and women, and an expression honoring their sacrifice, as we attempt to have people aware of two things: first, there is a terrible cost to war, any war, in human terms; secondly, that this government fails to honor those who serve, cutting veterans benefits and treating yet another generation as if you all were disposable Dixie Cups to be drunk from and discarded by the side of the road, or under a bridge.     

Arlington West is a memorial. It is also a political statement. First and foremost, it is a tribute to the sacrifices made by our citizens - by our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.     

Many of us are family members of those who have served, or are serving, in Iraq. Many are Gold Star parents and spouses. We honor our children, living and passed from this conflict with a firm stand for humanitarian solutions to conflict, and stand in absolute opposition to wars of choice, even as we honor their sacrifices and mourn their loss.     

Our stated reasons for invading Iraq were trumped-up and known false; the rationale for continued presence clearly does not represent the values our government states as this month's justification; and all the while the casualty counts rise.     

When, Daniel, will enough be enough? How many names should we put onto another granite wall before we say enough is enough? 58,000 like Vietnam? 1.986? 2, 397?  4, 899? 22,378? 36,5555?     

And, brother, do we seek to make the Iraqi body count equivalent to the 3,000,000 Vietnamese lost in that war before their price is enough? Is 150,000 enough? 1,345,000? What's the number?     

Sir, you, an honorable man, do what your conscience leads you to do.     

We, who have been there, done that, do what we do because we must: - honor the warrior - fight for those returning for dignity and services you are all due as you return to civilian your lives - and stand for peaceful solutions to humanity's ails, waging peace instead of war.     

When "this week's enemy" lands in Newport Beach we all will be on-hand with sling-shots and M-16's to ward off the horde. Until then, we will oppose the hellish madness of waging wars for any purpose save protecting our own borders.     

We wish you God-speed and hope that you return safely upon completion of your tour.     

In the meantime, we shall continue to stand vigil to raise American consciousness of the horrific human costs of war, to honor our fallen warriors, and to fight for the needs of all of you who go in harms way, as we once did. We do what we do, sir, because we did what we did. As men and women of conscience we have no alternative.     

Godspeed,     

Wage Peace, 

Daniel Kelly 
Veterans for Peace 
Military Families Speak Out 
Vietnam Veteran, 1966, 1967 
(949) 830-3604