Veterans for Peace. LA chapter, will hold a candlelight vigil at Arlington West Memorial at nightfall on Christmas Eve, December 24.

Located on the beach just north of the Santa Monica Pier, Arlington West is an ever-enlarging field of crosses that honors the American soldiers who’ve been killed in the Iraqi war. Veterans for Peace volunteers have set it up every Sunday and on certain holidays since February, 2004.

This weekend, it will be set up Sunday, December 23, and remain in place through the afternoon of Christmas Day.

In addition to the field of white crosses, punctuated by a “thread” of red crosses, that honors the 3893 soldiers who have been killed to date, the display features a tribute wall to the American wounded, a marker honoring the Iraqi dead, and flag-draped coffins and blue crosses in memory of the most recent casualties.