The last few mornings on my way to work I've passed the Madison Veterans for Peace's Memorial Mile in Olbrich Park. The idea is to show the human cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last year, the group said:

The effect of white tombstones stretching for nearly half a mile is just sobering. Drivers are stunned and cars driving by just go slower and slower as they begin to realize the extent of the death that has taken place.

As I've said before, I have mixed feelings about Iraq. However, I don't think this Memorial Mile sends the message that this group wants it to anymore. The tombstones are divided up by year and theater. As you drive down Atwood Ave. you see long rows of tombstones for Iraq in 2005 and 2006. Then, the 2007 section is dramatically shorter. 2008 is barely anything at all. When I see this I'm not thinking about the human cost of war, I'm thinking that "Hey, look at how casualties are down in the last year. Wow, things look like they're going much better."

Now, the Memorial Mile reminds me of the feeling you get when looking at the American cemetery in Normandy. It's about respecting the sacrifice of these soldiers. It's entirely appropriate for Memorial Day, but probably not quite what the Veterans for Peace had in mind.