Two campus political groups are setting aside party politics to remember the 22 Arizonans who have died fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The ASU Young Democrats initiated the Remembering Our Fallen Soldiers Memorial on Hayden Lawn on Monday by reading the names of Arizona's deceased servicemen and women and distributing ribbons to commemorate their sacrifices.
The Young Democrats decided to organize the memorial after the death of Army Ranger and former ASU football player Pat Tillman, said Cole Hickman, a political science freshman and director of voter registration for the Young Democrats.
Tillman is the most visible local serviceman to give his life for his country, but not the only person who should be remembered, Hickman said.
"These aren't distant people giving their lives. They're Arizonans," he added.
The Young Democrats will distribute ribbons indefinitely and collect money for Operation Home Front, a fund that gives financial aid to injured soldiers who might not qualify for Veterans Affairs benefits, said Tom Reade, a recent ASU graduate and regional coordinator for the Arizona Democratic Party.
In a bipartisan show of support, the United Republicans at ASU will join the Democrats in their memorial efforts beginning Wednesday, said United Republican President Kevin Riley, a political science junior.
Riley said he "fully endorsed" any attempt to bring attention to the sacrifices being made in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Several students who stopped to take ribbons agreed it is important to support America's troops regardless of their opinions of U.S. action in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Ian Newton, a music performance and pre-business freshman, said he supports the war and was impressed to see a group of students outside on a hot afternoon drawing attention to fallen soldiers.
"It's an extremely selfless thing on behalf of these people," he said.
Tiff Chiang, a pre-business and English linguistics freshman, said she initially supported the war, but is not sure if efforts in Iraq will be "legitimized" until the government uncovers evidence of weapons of mass destruction.
"Either way, I'm behind the troops all the way. It wouldn't look right if we didn't support them," Chiang said.
Ryan Morrison, a Japanese literature graduate student, said he disagrees with the war and hopes the troops come home as soon as possible.
"[I have] no problems with commemorating the dead as long as it's not commemorating the war," Morrison said.
But regardless of political ideology, ASU students should remember their fallen neighbors, Hickman said.
"These are people who volunteered," he said. "They did not make political decisions. They decided to serve their country."
Reach the reporter at amanda.keim@asu.edu.
