A couple of years ago, I did a few posts on the fields of flags I had observed in Vermont and in the Adirondacks.  The field in North Creek, NY was taken down last year, but last week, we traveled through Vermont once more and the field of little white flags was intact, with an increased number listed.  The new number was 4,287 with a note - 17 killed month of April. But, we voted for change and we will be out by summer of  2010:

Mr. Obama said roughly two-thirds of the 142,000 American troops now in Iraq will be withdrawn by the latter half of 2010, with the U.S. role in Iraq then shifting from combat to a more limited set of missions. All remaining U.S. troops will leave Iraq by the end of 2011, the president said.

“Let me say this as plainly as I can: By Aug. 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end,” Mr. Obama said Friday to cheers from the Marines crowding a gymnasium here.

[snip]

“America can no longer afford to see Iraq in isolation from other priorities,” he said. “We cannot sustain indefinitely a commitment that has put a strain on our military, and will cost the American people nearly a trillion dollars.”

Well, not exactly out, but maybe a little closer. Or, are we just moving the troops from one theater to another?  And how do the Afghans feel about that?

So, in the spirit of  Memorial Day, I have made a symbolic act for peace and turned my backyard garden into a giant rock garden peace sign.  Because, as much as I appreciate the sacrifice of our brave men and women in uniform, I feel that it is way past time for that sacrifice to end.

Let us have peace

Related posts:

1. Flags of our Sons and Daughters
2. Breaking News: Reid schedules Iraq vote for Saturday
3. Vermont, enough said
4. Out of Iraq Rally Pics
5. Salon: The Army is ordering injured troops to go to Iraq