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Dear, dear friends,

Thank you so much for your hard labor today in setting up the Iraq Body Count Exhibit.  It was a mammoth job that took every one of you to accomplish.  We created a work of art.  I realize that now you are all exhausted with aching muscles, (I fear tomorrow we will hurt more), and we are all physically and emotionally drained from the experience.  Drink water, remember to take arnica, treat yourself to a good massage.   A hot bath, sleep.

We put up 112,000 while flags (each one represents 6 Iraqis) and 3000 red ones.  The 12,000 new ones were located, and another 8000 are still in shipping.    Twenty-five new signs are being made tonight to reflect the accurate numbers.  We are ordering another box of red flags tomorrow to reflect the quickly rising numbers of US soldiers dead.  My brother today had the suggestion that we have a section for the journalists who have died, more in this war than in any other in history.  About 200 volunteers total showed up, about 50-80 at any one time.  There were students working alongside veterans, republicans working alongside democrats, I talked to a student from India working alongside a student from Japan, each trying to speak English about their strong sadness.

We had all 3 TV news stations, RG, Weekly, Emerald, several independent journalists covering the set up.  It looks like already this will be a high media event.  The college administration is a little concerned that the exhibit did "bleed" over the permitted parcels of grass, but so far they are working with us on that.  You could help by calling or writing president Dave Frohnmeyer's office, thanking him for this historic exhibit on his campus, in our town.  Positive press may help this exhibit stay up longer than the week we asked for.  No complaining, just thank him for his part in this!

There will be an event this Thursday the 25th from 11:30-4:00 at the EMU Amphitheater.  Speakers, student performers, and a moderated panel discussion of vets from all sides of the opinion spectrum will be featured.   Spread the word!

Thanks again for offering your Sunday to help bring awareness of the cost of this war.  This is an experiential exhibit, and your experiences are part of the art.    Now, everyone who sees it is also a participant in the collective shift in awareness of the great tragedy of the innocent lives lost.  Look for the fence where people can leave reactions, poems, flowers, offerings.

You did a good thing today, and your work will now will be appreciate by 21,000 students, plus faculty, townspeople, and countless people reached through the media.

I of course did not get to connect with all who were there, so please forward this to those you know who gave their time, labor, and heart to this project.

Thank you so much.
Love, Carol