From the Maine Frequent Visit Program brochure:

"In March 2005, a group of Maine activists, anxious to increase pressure on Congressional delegates to take a stronger stand against the war in Iraq occupied Rep. Tom Allen's Portland office.

"After reading a statement addressing the catastrophic consequences of the ill-conceived war and occupation of Iraq, 35 activists settled in to read the names and [sic] honor of each of the then 1400+ American dead and an equal number of Iraq causalities [sic].  As each name was read, an X was recorded on a 9X12 cloth now known as the War Cloth.

"Since the initial occupation, Maine activists have occupied the offices of their Congressional delegates five times creating five war cloths as a visual reminder of the human cost of the war."