Since the United States declared war on Iraq more than five years ago, 104 Oregonians have lost their lives in the Middle East. A pair of black combat boots has been placed in the EMU Amphitheater to commemorate each of them.
“We use Gov. Kulongoski’s list of the fallen,” said Jeff Hunter of American Friends Service Committee, one of the groups sponsoring the exhibit. “For instance, there were two soldiers who had gone all four years to Corvallis who were killed. They weren’t born in Oregon, but they graduated college here.”
Eyes Wide Open is a multimedia memorial using photos, boots, shoes, videos and prayer flags to demonstrate the cost of war.
“This is the cost – the cost in human lives, the cost in damaged lives, and then the cost in dollars,” Hunter said.
Surrounding the boots on the amphitheater’s steps are shoes, which represent Iraqi civilians, while hard hats and prayer flags represent Oregon contractors and American service people, respectively.
Eyes Wide Open will remain at the University through today before making a stop in Salem.
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