In 2003, the United States invaded Iraq. The justifications for this action have changed over time, and the measure of success has changed as well. Five years have passed, and now the number of soldiers killed in the conflict exceeds 4000.

Over time, the war has moved from the front page, and the death toll has virtually disappeared from view. All the while, families and friends live the stress of a loved one in danger, or worse yet, the terrible loss of life. People come back from multiple tours, shattered. Suicide attempts are up. Those who succeed in their attempts are not counted as fatalities of this war unless they die in Iraq.

I have seen how often people have looked to the cranes I make from polymer clay as memorials, or symbols of hope or of peace. Over time, I have come to respect how this simple origami form can convey powerful messages. And from that experience, came the inspiration for this project. I have begun folding a crane to represent each soldier killed in Iraq from polymer clay. Each crane will have the name of a soldier, the date they died, the location and the cause of death. Transferring this information onto the cranes is an attempt to recognize that each one represents a life and a story.

The larger story of this war, and how it unfolded and the losses accumulated, will be told in how the cranes are displayed. I am stringing the cranes on cables, with each cable intended to represent one week in the war. Each crane will represent one person. But behind each crane is a family, friends, co-workers, and a whole community of loved ones. These are people who carry the burden of this war unseen.

But, another group has suffered tremendous losses, even more unseen. A conservative estimate shows the Iraqis have lost nearly 100,000 citizens in this war. Many have become refugees with a tenuous status in other countries. Often unable to get work to support their families. Those that have remained in Iraq face daily terror in their lives. Terror of going to the market to buy the food for their families. Children have had their education stopped because going to school is not a safe option. Electricity is not a reliable commodity. I want to recognize these losses, as best as is possible in this project. With the help of others, waxed paper cranes are being folded to represent the Iraqis who have lost their lives. Volunteers have stepped forward to help with the project, and add their personal energy to make a statement. Life matters. Whether it is an American soldier or an Iraqi civilian.