A photo of the Always Lost exhibit when installed at Western Nevada College in 2009.

In fall 2008, Western Nevada College sociology Professor Don Carlson was stopped in his tracks by The New York Times' Rosters of the Dead. "Four thousand faces of American military who had perished in Iraq stared at me," he said, "and I realized that this war has been perhaps one of the most impersonal wars ever fought."

He approached English Professor Marilee Swirczek and together, with her creative writing classes, they envisioned an exhibit that would personalize the wars--Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom--through poems, prose, and photographs. Retired Marine Major and English instructor Kevin Burns selected the name for the exhibit from an observation by American writer Gertrude Stein: "War is never fatal but always lost. Always lost."

The heart of Always Lost is the Wall of the Dead: individual photographs with names of our U.S. military war casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan since Sept. 11, 2001, which at the time of this writing, July 2011, number over 6,000. The research and formatting of the wall consumed hundreds of hours of meticulous work, and is on-going. As part of our commitment to recognize and honor the ultimate sacrifice of our American troops, as long as we are able, we will update the Wall of the Dead to reflect additional casualties.

Always Lost includes the 2004 Pulitzer Prize-winning Iraq War combat photos of David Leeson and Cheryl Diaz Meyer (courtesy of The Dallas Morning News) with literary work by Professor Swirczek's creative writing classes, veterans and their families, the Lone Mountain Writers Group, and other northern Nevada writers. Three Western Nevada College student-veterans are profiled through photographs and interviews to represent the thousands of men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The poetry of SPC Noah Pierce of Minnesota - who took his own life after two combat tours in Iraq - represents those casualties.

Thus, what began as a consideration of the effects of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars on the U.S. population evolved into a powerful meditation on the effects of war on the individual--on each of us. Always Lost has become a sacred space in which to contemplate the personal costs and collective sacrifice of these particular conflicts, and consequently, of all wars.

The original exhibit generated an overwhelming response from the community. Colleges, universities, veterans' organizations, and others from across the country began to submit requests for Always Lost. United States Senators Harry Reid and Dean Heller have invited the exhibition to Washington D.C.; the Carson Nugget's Community First initiative donated $100,000 toward the replication, remounting and packaging of the photographic images and literary works. In addition, these funds will be used to establish a scholarship fund for veterans. The Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts, also awarded a grant to support the project, but we need your help to maintain and update the exhibit and its journey across our country.

Questions or inquiries may be directed to Project Manager Amy Roby at 775-445-4243. To make a financial contribution to the traveling exhibit, please contact the Western Nevada College Foundation Office or 775-445-3240.

Casualties continue to mount; the Wall of the Dead continues to grow.

Recent News

Latest News: Date	Title	Photo
September 28, 2011	Senator Dean Heller addresses audience at Always Lost reception
August 6, 2011	Nevada Appeal Commentary Nevada Appeal Commentary
July 13, 2011	Gift supports "Always Lost" war exhibit Carson Nugget Donates $100,000 to WNC
Additional News
July 12, 2010	Fund-raising Helping to Pay for Travel Costs Art Exhibit On War Hits The Road
September 2, 2009	Campus show runs September 7-18 Fallon Art Exhibit Considers Cost of War
June 4, 2009	"Always Lost" Exhibits in Carson City Through September 3 Carson Gallery Show Explores Cost of War