Madison Veterans for Peace

Clarence Kailin Chapter 25

The War is Not Over: Nearly Six Years Later.... Madison Memorial Mile Nov. 8-15, 2008, Speedway Road 11/08/2008

November 2008 Memorial Mile

Madison Veterans for Peace - Clarence Kailin Chapter installed and recently completed its third Memorial Mile dedicated to the U.S. service members killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Fifty volunteers installed the mile on November 8 totaling 4,800 tombstones along the length of Speedway Road.

A memorial ceremony was conducted on Sunday, November 9th, including coverage by two local network affiliates and Wisconsin Public Radio. Speakers (all active members of Chapter 25) included Fr. David Couper (Marine veteran and former Madison Police Chief), Lt. Colonel Fran Wiedenhoeft (an Air Force nurse anesthetist), Iraq war and Navy veteran Nathan Toth, and Viet Nam combat veteran Will Williams. Each in profound fashion decried the vast losses in human lives, civilian as well as military, and the profligate squandering of precious national resources on these long wars.

The site of the Mile was on the edge of historic Forest Hill Cemetery where thousands of veterans lay-- from the Civil War through the current Iraq-Afghanistan wars. This oldest and historic wooded burial plot faces upon a major Madison thoroughfare where over 15,000 vehicles pass daily. The Chapter received special permission from the Madison Parks Commission to use this somber and poignant location. The vast majority of comments expressed in the press or from passers-by were most favorable according to members and non-members living in the nearby Regent neighborhood. Many indicated their astonishment at the visual nature of this sculpture. The site may be used again during the Memorial Day week in 2009, though no final decision has been made. The Memorial Mile was twice installed at Olbrich Park along Atwood Avenue on Madison's near East side on Veterans' Day 2007 and Memorial Day week in 2008.

The Chapter thanks members John Fournelle and Richard Chamberlin for co-chairing this event as well as member volunteers and many members of the public for their great assistance.

Volunteers removed the markers on Saturday, November 15.

Click here for some photos of the most recent Mile and the Sunday ceremony.