Hugh Bruce, a former combat medic, at the Arlington NYS press conference
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Community organizers, local politicians and members of the clergy united this past Memorial Day weekend with an exhibit on Staten Island’s South Beach boardwalk — a memorial to military personnel and civilians killed in the U.S. military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Organizer Elaine Brower said that the group of organizers and participants “could be the most diverse coalition Staten Island has ever seen — and is reflective of the country’s waning enthusiasm for war, particularly in light of the economic disaster that is the U.S. economy.”
Arlington New York State
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)
The “Arlington New York State” memorial centered on U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was set up along Staten Island’s boardwalk — with the scenic Verrazano Narrows Bridge in the background. Modeling the memorial on the “Arlington West” exhibit maintained by Veterans for Peace in Santa Barbara, CA, members of Movement for a Democratic Society’s Staten Island chapter joined with Military Families Speak Out, Peace Action Staten Island and other local activists to produce a field of crosses in the sands of South Beach, each one representing a New York State resident killed in action in Iraq or Afghanistan, as well as another 600 markers as a small representation for residents of other states. The memorial included the “Eyes Wide Open” display produced by the American Friends Service Committee which is a collection of military boots and civilian shoes, each tagged with the name of a victim of the Iraq War.
Community organizer and city council candidate Debi Rose
(Photo: Thomas Good / NLN)
The memorial ran from 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 23 through 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 24. A press conference on Saturday afternoon featured some well known local leaders: Ed Josey of the NAACP, Reverend Susan Karlson of the Unitarian Church, Hugh Bruce of Veterans For Peace, Gold Star Mother Sue Niederer whose son was killed in action in Iraq and community organizer Debi Rose who recently announced her candidacy for the New York city council. Rose will square off in a primary against incumbent Ken Mitchell (D – District 49) in the fall.
NLN covered the event and all of the speakers remarks are available on video.nextleftnotes.net.
