Home › News › Local
Boots to mark deaths in Iraq, Afghanistan
Smart Box
Iraq war anniversary
The exhibit "Eyes Wide Shut" is on display Sunday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in Old Town; Monday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. outside Zimmerman Library on the University of New Mexico campus.
More Local
- ABQTrib.com to remain available
- Former Marine to serve two years in jail for killing Albuquerque robber
- Wilson-Pearce battle for U.S. Senate exemplifies party's disparity
MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES
-
ABQTrib.com to remain available
08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008 -
Congressman is indicted
08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008 -
Series of attacks target Green Zone
08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008 -
Iran is defying U.N., agency says
08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008 -
Waterboarding approval probed
08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008
TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*
- Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
- Is Rome Burning?
- Ominous Skies
- The Road to Invalidation
- Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.
STORY TOOLS
SHARE THIS STORY [?]
Rows of empty combat boots will represent the deaths of more than 400 National Guardsmen and 23 soldiers and Marines - each from New Mexico.
Saturday's display in Old Town Plaza will mark the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.
The boots are part of "Eyes Wide Shut," an exhibit that represents military personnel who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The display is one of two weekend events in Albuquerque commemorating the anniversary. An antiwar rally, which begins Saturday morning at Civic Plaza, will include a march and a celebration called "Peace-a-Palooza."
Bez Booth-McCauley, a member of the American Friends Service Committee, which conducts peace programs worldwide, says the exhibit gives people a personal connection to the casualties of violence in the Middle East.
"It's important, because it brings to mind how many of these soldiers have died this year," she said of the display, part of a national project that began in 2004. "It's a time to experience a part of this war and a part of what our country is going through at this time."
Each pair of boots will display the name of a New Mexican who has died, and these names will be read aloud during the event.
The antiwar rally will start at 11 a.m. at Civic Plaza. Participants plan to march to the Downtown offices of U.S. Sens. Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman.
"Many people would like Domenici and Bingaman to please withdraw our troops," said Vicki Johnson, a rally organizer.
The march will conclude at Robinson Park at Eighth Street and Central Avenue, where musicians, poetry slam groups and dance groups will perform.
Cecelia Chavez, employee at the Albuquerque Center for Peace and Justice, said she'll attend the rally.
"We need to let the world know that we are opposing any kind of violent intervention," she said. "We believe communication and peace is the way."

