You have to Wonder.....

Toward the end of our trip down South we have the great fortune to stop over in Santa Monica, Ca.

It was our first time there, and as with all the other California beaches we had not visited before we were very excited to experience it.

Our first spot to check out seeing as it was close to the hotel, was the Santa Monica Pier. Eagerly march down the boardwalk our attention was grabbed on the North side of the pier. The beach was being used to demonstrate the cost, in human life, of the war in Iraq. With an obvious focus on the US army, it spoke of the numbers of lives lost to the Iraq nation.












Seemingly endless boards were posted giving the lost soldiers an identity, a home, and when they were lost to the conflict.














A young girl takes a moment among the nameless crosses that represent the lives of many that have been lost in a war that seems to have lost it's way.

Along with the many lines of names of fallen heroes were more boards giving them a face. To stand in front of these panels of life and know they are all lost is quite overwhelming and it really hits home the true cost of war.

As shown above, it's not just the US army that is mourning it's losses.

An endless sea of faces of fine young men and women who gave their lives for their country.

A woman spends some time reading the names of those who have sacrificed to help keep her safe.

Crosses bare names of those no longer with us.

Like the crosses and images the lists seemed to go on and on, emphasizing the large numbers of individuals taken during the Iraq conflict.

Another image of the young girl trying to comprehend what has been laid out before her.

My apologies for some of the formatting of this particular blog, it seems to have had issues in translating to this page. I sincerely hope this does not spoil you enjoyment of my images.

Thanks

Paul