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Coalition Memorial has evolved over time. In May 2003 it
was a piece of chimney masonry wrapped in black tape, an
American flag, flowers, and a candle. Upon this
"counting stone" were added the number of American
soldiers who were dying in Iraq. This information was
obtained by monitoring media reports.
Coalition Memorial changed in July 2003 to the format you see
now: each fallen soldier identified by picture, rank, name, age,
military service unit, home town, country, and cause of
death. This information is placed on
"panels". Each panel contains ten to eleven
Fallen, and panels are mounted on "walls".
Panels number 35 per wall. In July data collection became
precise by accessing various websites (Links)
on a daily basis.
Coalition Memorial evolved when the second wall was erected in November 2003. The memorial was expanded to include soldiers that have died since October 10, 2001 and made possible the remembrance of not only the Fallen in Iraq, but also Afghanistan, Africa, the Philippines, and the waters surrounding these areas. Remembering other soldiers who died also became mandatory. These include soldiers who committed suicide after serving on the field of battle, soldiers who died after being activated for Federal Duty- in pre-deployment training and civilian accidents stateside, and soldiers that died while on leave from
war.
The number of Fallen continues to be updated daily on the “counting stone? Wall panels are updated as deaths occur and as more information becomes available. When all the information and
photographs of soldiers are obtained on each individual panel, it is then permanently sealed and remounted on the Wall.
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