Introduction

Eight months after American troops landed in Iraq, several veterans in Los Angeles decided that Americans didn't fully grasp the cost of this new conflict in the war-torn Middle East. They created Arlington West, an array of crosses that are set up every Sunday next to the Santa Monica pier in honor of the men and women who have died in Iraq.

The memorial's creators thought the site would be temporary. Last month, it hit its five year anniversary.

The first Arlington West actually originated in Santa Barbara, and several other locations have spawned since.

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