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Iraq vet and friends hit halfway mark in massive effort to walk laps for nearly 3,500 U.S. troops killed in Iraq
Names of US troops & Iraqi civilians killed in Iraq
NEWS ADVISORY
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Contact: Cres Vellucci, Veterans for Peace, 916/996-9170
ATTN: WEEKEND NEWS DESK
Iraq vet and friends hit halfway mark in massive effort to walk laps for nearly 3,500 U.S. troops killed in Iraq, hope to finish next week
SACRAMENTO – The Sacramento area Iraq war veteran marching laps around the State Capitol since early Memorial Day to remember U.S. troops killed in Iraq and to protest the war said Sunday he had reached the halfway mark.
The unidentified vet said he and supporters have completed 1,751 laps by Saturday night, about half the estimated nearly 3,500 Americans killed.
The vet – a member of Iraq Veterans for Peace and Veterans for Peace, both of whom have confirmed his status via military records – remained anonymous to maintain focus on those who have died and not himself. He is a full-time college student, who works and has a family locally.
The massive effort – which continues daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from the 12th & L Street side of the Capitol – includes throngs of supporters also walking laps for Americans and Iraqi civilians killed in Iraq.
Late Wednesday, the vet finished doing laps for all 362 California victims of the war after three 24-hour days of making rounds without a night in bed.
Others have joined him, including joggers passing by, and those who have heard of the walk. Each person walking a lap reads a card with personal information about the war casualty, and then posts a yellow ribbon on a growing "Memorial Wall."
The effort is expected to be completed by Wednesday or Thursday.
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