Happy Veterans Day! On this special day, let's honor the brave men and women in service in the past, present or in the future. Let me do my small contribution in honoring them by introducing the public to the Lafayette Hillside Memorial. I have passed by Lafayette during the numerous bart rides I've taken touring the city. However, I was unaware of this memorial until one day that I met up with my yelp friend, Karen at the parking lot of this station. I immediately noticed the white crosses all over the hillside. Karen gave me bits of information as she was able to google while waiting for me. We decided to walk closer to take some pictures. There was no landmark or anything at the site to explain its significance. We saw a sign showing 7940 but didn't know at that time what it meant. Now we know that this represents the total number of soldiers who were killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. To the brave men and women in service, We Salute You! read more

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The scene on the carriage as it moves through the Lafayette station is to me a visual metaphor for our collective awareness of things War these days. Those of you who ride the train know of what I speak. Not that I'm suggesting that every time their carriage rolls past the riders ought pull their eyeballs from their devices and look north to the south-facing hill covered in a blanket of from a distance small white crosses almost asterisks to the thousands of lives they represent. Asterisks saying here stands a visual representation of a man or woman who gave their life in service of this country. I'm not suggesting this, no. All I offer is an observation that the times I'm on that train filled with others going from here to there I don't really see any heads ever come up at all and that in ways feels like how we've come to be about war far away barely talked about a hum in the background as if this is the way it's always going to be. Setting aside the motivation for the war undertaking in the first place for as different people have different views and I'm sure those who have gone to physically battle are not uniform in their perspective either. But don't set aside the reality that at this very moment on the other side of the world many many people are experiencing something very very different from what we are to degrees blessed to experience here. Sometimes I can't sleep at night because the streetlamp is bright. Other places it's the scream of mortars that keeps you up until the light comes again if it does. Back in a day a very long time ago my mother and father would have the news on over supper and the first thing Walter Cronkite gave us was the body count. And by so doing he and others like him kept the recognition that all was not right front and center in our consciousness and this awareness actually motivated in ways a punctuation of these overseas excursions. Anymore unless you dig around for it this information is not readily available. Tell me how many are deployed, tell me at what expense. You can, but you've got to search first. You don't perhaps think of it often. For me, this does a disservice to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, irrespective who sent them. I hear the land on which this memorial stands is for sale and that the Owner offered the property on which the memorial is constructed to the city but the offer was turned down because there are crosses and people would take issue with crosses and I guess I understand but am hoping that if this land trades the new Owner can find a way to preserve some version of what's there presently. Because we need one. read more

Somber... On 19 March 2008, it will be 5 years since this war started...and counting. I've been trying to do some research on this spot since I've gotten back from up north. I haven't tried hard enough because it's all right there. Just to be at this sight, reminds you of the grave importance of not only how precious life is, but of the sacrifices of others, so we could live our lives how we see fit. So don't forget about those who are there now, or about the ones who fell for us. God bless. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lafayette_hillside_memorial - http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/ End the war. -side note...my 50th review. read more

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I'm not the best at caring about politics. I lean away from most political things because I have no faith in anyone. But the war that has killed 5 thousand some odd men and women kind of makes me pay attention. I'm very patriotic regardless of my complete lack of political faith. My grandfather was a rescue diver in the Navy, and a cook. Forming my love of America and food. This memorial and this so called war has a special place for me because it has affected me on a personal level. I've had 4 friends go and only had 3 come back. The one who didn't come home was named Jim Coon. We were coworkers and he even asked me out on a date once. Unfortunately for him I started dating my now husband the week before he decided to ask me out. Other wise you could be reading a completely different story right now. http://militarytimes.com/valor/army-pfc-james-j-coon/2671821/ I don't know anyone else who knows anyone who was killed in this war effort. When this Memorial was being built one of my customers was the main leader and painter of the crosses. He was inspired and impassioned. I agreed with him. It should be in our faces everyday the price we are paying for this war. Its men who will never go on another date, have a child, walk hand in hand with their wife in the evening, hell drink a delicious cocktail at a fancy Yelp event. Then I had another customer who adamantly was against it. While I understood his sentiment, I don't understand not being open and talking about what is happening. , and letting people express it the way they want to. He felt it wasn't honoring the soldiers. Are our soldiers coming home? I don't know, there seems to be rumors of such things. While my husband and I were just looking at the memorial two boys, roughly the age of 12, were walking right in front looking very hard at the ground and whispering to themselves. As I walked to get into our truck I looked back to see one of them with a small hand held BB Gun at his side. They were walking along and shooting inconspicuous bugs or vermin in the dead grass. It struck me as how fitting, young men playing with mock firearms in front of a memorial that is fraught with controversy over the machismo or powerful men. That moment will be burned in my memory like the moment someone told me my friend had been killed. Maybe one day when I'm an old woman this memorial will be made of some type of bronze on a hill in Washington DC to honor our soldiers. If that ever happens I will cry again like I did at the Vietnam Memorial thinking of all the life Ive lived while 5 thousand some odd men and women are frozen in time. read more

For more times that I can count, I have driven past the Lafayette Hillside Memorial on the way to and from work or Gayle's house. Sometimes I notice and more often I should. I have also lingered at the BART station and quietly pondered many of the unintended consequences of our war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The signs (and the previous controversy) are besides the point, as they aren't really the things doing the talking on this beautiful and poignant expanse. The Bush-era "aid and comfort to the enemy" accusations have now faded, while the growing number of crosses on the hill silently and timelessly stand watch. It's a good reminder, as in the course of my busy daily life, I sometimes forget about the sacrifices that our troops and their families have performed on our behalf. read more

A BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE TO OUR FALLEN SOLDIERS Regardless your opinion on war, politics, or government, MOST people can agree that the soldiers who have died fighting for our country deserve respect and honor. I can't imagine the pain of loss so many families and friends have experienced since the beginning of the war 10 years ago. I can remember how controversial the crosses on this hillside were when new, (and probably still are), since they are a tribute to fallen soldiers of the Iraq War. People who both supported and did not support the war effort have stood in protest in front of the crosses. Sometimes simultaneously. There are other symbols to represent various religions - not just crosses. I think they're all beautiful. I remember when they were new, it was argued that one person can't put up that many 'signs', but the city ordinance only regulates the size of "signs" (crosses in this case), and not the quanity, so they were permitted to stay. The elderly widow of a veteran (WWII) owns the hillside and maintains it. Additions to it are made with the help of volunteers and other groups. read more

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started in controvery, the Lafayette Hillside Memorial honors America's fallen men/women. the Memorial isn't coming to an end. it's entering a new phase. heartell there wil be some development on this land. a portion of the land will remain to permanently honor our fallen "hero/heroins". hoping the message will sink "NEVER AGAIN" -that's how i feel everytime i drive by. read more

High on a hillside in Lafayette above the westbound side of Hwy 24 lies a sea of white crosses surrounding a simple white sign that reads, "In Memory of 4,000 U.S. Troops killed in Iraq." During my last trip up north a few weeks ago, I spent some time looking at this memorial while at the BART station waiting for friends. I frequently see this memorial when driving to Oakland or San Francisco and I am gobsmacked by the exponential increase in crosses with every visit. The property is owned by 83 year old Louise Clark who along with her husband and a group of volunteers began erecting the crosses years ago, and the memorial has been a source of controversy ever since. Now the memorial represents troops killed in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Some say it's a shocking protest piece that denigrates the memories of those killed. Others say that while stark, it is a strong visual reminder of the sacrifice that so many of our young troops have made for this country and their families. Regardless of whether or not you view it as a protest or a memorial, the most important thing about this sobering hillside is that it gets people thinking and talking, and to me this project is well worth a drive out to the East Bay to experience. read more

I remember when the crosses first went up. It caused all kinds of controversy, not just locally, but around the world as well. It is a reminder and a symbol of all those who died to protect us. God bless all those who died for our freedom. read more

It is one of the most poignant reminders of war, its losses, its meaning, its history and its impact on our world. Even though I have nothing to do with this project, it makes me proud that it is in my neighborhood, and am pleased that it is valued, and will be transformed into a permanent memorial. One person can make a difference and touch hundreds of thousands. read more

I pass by this hillside whenever I ride on BART and it's sad to see the numbers keep going up. I decided to pay a visit to the hillside and attended the vigil that was being held there. It's great to see people come together to pay respect to the fallen soldiers. http://www.flickr.com/photos/13715925@N08/sets/72157618805010692/ read more

Very interesting piece of art. The crosses represent the death of our soldiers abroad and there is a tally board of how many lives have been lost. Each year the number rises but I appreciate this hillside reminder as not many people are aware of the devastation that happens overseas. It's conveniently located right across the Lafayette BART station. So if you're lucky enough to find a parking spot there, I suggest you check it out before hopping on a train to work or wherever you're going. It's also very visible from CA 24 freeway. (Make sure to keep your eyes on the road though! Ha!) I tried looking for somewhere to park a little ways up the hill, but I couldn't. So hopefully I'll be able to read up on someone else's tip that'll allow me to get up close and personal with the crosses. read more

Inspired by Chico's beautifully written review which was chosen for today's ROTD, I've decided to add my own. I'd heard about the memorial and the controversy surrounding it. Some objected to it as somehow unpatriotic and some self righteous jerks actually vandalized it in the name of patriotism. Sort of the "destroying the village in order to save it" kind of mindset. Though I drive out Highway 24 a lot, it's easy to miss from the highway. One day several months ago I made a point of driving on the road between the BART station and the memorial and I was stunned by its awesome, beautiful and terrible expanse. It's a generous tribute on the part of the landowner to those who have sacrificed for us in this needless war. read more

The display is disrespectful of the many who have given their lives for us. A proper depiction would not include a collage of poorly placed items that collectively are in such a state of disrepair. Being a veteran, I am offended by this! read more

It is very moving to see the hillside of crosses and other symbols. I did not know what it was until I Googled it.

Funny how the negative attention to this memorial has dropped dramatically since Obama became president and has signed onto the Afgan war. Just saying. read more

I lost my beloved only nephew in Iraq in January of 2004. My family's life and the life of my sister, brother-in-law and niece, who lost their only son and brother, have never been the same. I am glad the crosses are there on that hillside. I do not care why they are there. I care that they remind everyone who passes by of the soldiers who have lost everything for what they believed in, and the loved ones they have left behind who still love them and think of them every day. We do not need a cross on a hillside to remember our loved ones, but if they help others to think about them, too, then I am glad. read more