THE CANCER MONUMENT: A REMEDY OF PEACE IN WAR

The Cancer Monument in Allen, TX plans to show their support to victims of gas attacks in Halabja, Iraq.  Attacks from Saddam Hussein in 1988 left thousands dead or injured.  A monument to honor them was built outside of the town of Halabja.  Disagreements about how monies should have been spent led to a protest which ended in the Halabja monument’s destruction.   For those affected by cancer in Halabja Iraq The Cancer Monument Inc. is honoring these citizens with an inscription.

Allen, Texas June 12, 2007—The Cancer Monument Inc. in Allen, TX is honoring those affected by cancer in Halabja, Iraq with an inscription.  “I was honored when the Director of the Halabja Monument visited our website and emailed me to know how the Kurdish people could be included among the 60,000 cancer heroes to be inscribed,” said monument creator and cancer survivor Michelle Miller.”  I designed The Cancer Monument to be a teaching structure and am excited to bridge geographic and cultural gaps through my work.

In 1988, Saddam Hussein’s army attacked the small farming town of Halabja, Iraq, near the Iranian border.  The attack killed around 5,000 citizens and left 10,000 anguishing with deformities, diseases, and cancer.  In honor of these victims, a 100-foot memorial was built and opened in 2003.  It was placed on the edge of the town with a complete museum inside with poetry and pictures communicating the grief of the list of victims names listed inside the monument.

The location of the monument became an unfortunate one, as government officials passed over the broken down town of Halabja in light of the modern monument built right outside of town.   Promises were made to aid the town but were never kept.  On March 16, 2006 a protest was held at the monument to express frustrations for the lack of help to rebuild the city.   The demonstrators attempted to block officials from entering the ceremony.  Tragically, the protest ended with fired shots, resulting in one death, and lighting the monument on fire, which left it in ruin.  The government granted $30 million to help restore Halabja, but the conference to plan the restoration has been delayed.  A teacher, Sarkhel Ghafer Hama-Khan was given charge to rebuild the monument, but no steps have yet been taken in that direction.

With an inscription space donated by Rodenbaugh’s Flooring and Appliance, in Allen Texas The Cancer Monument is honoring these fellow cancer heroes with an inscription that will read “Kurdish citizens- Halabja Iraq” as an extension of friendship and compassion to those who strive to find healing, hope, and restoration.