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Memorial Day Ceremony on Capitol Mall Features 120,000 Flags

Memorial Day ceremony Monday marks deaths of thousands in Iraq War with 120,000 flags on Capitol Mall

A special 120,000 flag Memorial Day ceremony will be held here Monday at 10 a.m. (9th & Capitol Mall) to pay tribute to the thousands of U.S. troops and civilians killed in the Iraq War.

A small army of volunteers are expected to finish the display late Sunday on the grassy medians lining Capitol Mall from 4th to 9th Street. They've been working dawn to dusk all weekend.

The 120,000 flag Iraq Body County Exhibit was created by Boulder, CO students to raise awareness of the human cost of the Iraq War, by displaying flags to represent those killed, and letting the numbers speak for themselves. It is meant to be non-partisan.

The City staff initially approved, and then canceled the permit for the exhibit. Eventually, last week, the Sacramento City Council intervened and voted - after an appeal and arguments by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Sacramento, and veterans - to direct city staff to approve the permit immediately.

City Councilperson Ray Treatheway, a Vietnam War veteran, initiated the successful vote. Mayor Heather Fargo cast the deciding vote, when the first tally resulted in one vote shy of the required five votes. The final vote was 5-3.

The exhibit has been shown in Portland, OR; Boulder, CO and Chico, CA among other U.S. cities. It is expected to be displayed in Washington D.C. late this summer.

www.iraqbodycountexhibit.org