Return to Main	Deane Memorializes Fallen Soldiers Bill Deane is using copper to honor the fallen soldiers in Iraq.  The copper tree beers a leaf for every soldier, American or coalition, killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Inscribed on each leaf is the name and age of the fallen solder.  Bill also built a tree for the fallen soldiers in Afghanistan.
		Building the Trees The trees are made entirely out of copper.  For each fallen soldier, Bill pounds out a leaf and engraves the name and age.  What initially started out as a single tree has now grown into multiple trees. A separate tree has been created to memorialize the soldiers who have lost their lives in Afghanistan. Another tree will memorialize the international coalition soldiers. And finally two trees will memorialize the American soldiers who died in Iraq. As the trees grow, Bill adds copper branches to provide space for the new leaves.   Bill is currently in the process of replacing the single Iraq tree with an updated design incorporating two trees.
		'I build the tree for the soldiers and the love ones they leave behind.  I lost friends in Vietnam.  I was never able to do anything for them.  This helps me with that.'
	At the base of the tree, Bill keeps track of the fallen soldiers.