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Red and white flags dot the lawn of the Valley Library Quad Tuesday as part of the traveling Iraq Body Count Exhibit, a non-political organization that seeks to inform the public of the loss of American and Iraqi lives since the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The exhibit will continue at OSU until May 14.

Reminders of lives lost in war

White flags represent five or more Iraqi deaths, red flags show five American deaths

By: Gail Cole

Posted: 5/7/08

Starting Tuesday and lasting until May 14, the Valley Library Quad will be covered in white and red flags to show the number of Iraqis and Americans that have died since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

The flags and information are brought to OSU by the Iraq Body Count Exhibit, which is a non-political organization that informs the public of the exact loss of life that has resulted in the past five years.

Posted signs for the exhibit state that each red flag represents five Americans killed, and each white flag represents a minimum of five Iraqis killed.

The exhibit is being hosted by the OSU College Democrats. Although it is located in the library quad, the Valley Library is not affiliated with the exhibit.

A booth will be located in the quad each day of the exhibit to present information on the exhibit as well as to accept donations. According to the exhibit's website, the organization is trying to raise $28,000 in order to create a one-to-one ratio of flags to lost lives for when the exhibit is taken to Washington, D.C.

Before coming to OSU, the exhibit was shown at Southern Oregon University.

The exhibit will next be placed near the California State Capitol in Sacramento from May 21-27.

Amanda Halama, an executive member of the OSU College Democrats, said the flags are a way to show the "human cost of the war."

"We don't talk about the numbers very much," Halama said. "It's a good visual representation to show that there is a number."

Local community members joined in by helping set up the flags.

"I'm concerned about the war every day," said Laurie Childers of Corvallis. "These flags have been used before and they will [be used] again."

As it was being set up, students were already taking notice.

"It forces people to think about it when they walk by," said Katie Parker, a sophomore in history.

"As long as they're thinking, it's a step in the right direction."

Gail Cole, staff writer

news@dailybarometer.com, 737-2231