Every Sunday since February 2004, volunteers place red and white crosses (and stars of David and crescents) on the sand to remember the fallen and wounded soldiers from the United States’ wars, and to acknowledge the human cost of war. The local chapter of Veterans for Peace sponsors the project; there is a separate section with purple crosses of military members who have died by suicide.

It is a stunning, sobering sight.

I spoke with the gentleman who was in charge (he was wearing a red ball cap that said IMMIGRANTS MAKE AMERICA GREAT); he told me his organization was starting a new project aimed at combating the recent rise of Islamaphobia.

If you want to learn more about the crosses project, there are interesting articles here and here.

Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, California
photographed 2.19.2017