Veterans Day is to commemorate those who have served our country since its beginning. Mike and I are very proud, especially, of our fathers. Both served in WWII. My dad served as a Marine on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific during and immediately after the war. Mike’s dad still has scars and pieces of metal inside his body from serious wounds he received while serving in the Army in Europe. They both returned alive, but—like all veterans—with memories that never left them the same. They both went on to be great fathers and examples to us and to their respective communities. Mike called his dad, who is still living, to thank him once again for his service. I wish my dad were around so I could call him.
It is also a time to remember that war is not glorious and has its costs. The many thousands who survive their service are changed, some not for the best. Those who suffer, physical, psychological, and spiritual wounds deserve our help.
Our most recent war has so far claimed 4,780 lives. The Bush Administration forbids photographs of the caskets as they return, lest they “upset people.” But we must face the reality of what war really means. Each of the caskets below represents a man or woman who paid the ultimate price in our name. It is in their memory that we must work tirelessly to eliminate the causes of war.
The next page shows what 4,780 caskets looks like.
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America 
A couple of weeks ago, Norway became the sixth country to sign on to marriage equality. (See chronology below.) Others will follow shortly, as one of the last barriers to civil rights equality continues to topple worldwide.
Congratulations to all the couples who wait in line starting today to get marriage licenses in California. Waiting today will be easy, because some of you have waited decades for this day. 
It is so easy to get tired in cyberspace. The results of our hard work are not obvious. Perfectionists like me take way too long to write something that can be read in 30 seconds and forgotten by all. We are all busy with our lives and wonder why anyone would be interested in what we have to say. 
After searching his heart, he found that he had to support the resolution. A link to the press conference video on the mayor’s Web site is 
“This is it. We’re married. I love you,” Sean Fritz told Tim McQuillan, as the two became Iowa’s first legally married same-sex couple Friday morning. 
My favorite author, Kurt Vonnegut, died yesterday at 84. My favorite high school English teacher, Alma Anthony, introduced many of us to Vonnegut and we were enraptured. I believe the first Vonnegut book we read was Cat’s Cradle, still one of my favorites. (A year ago, I bought and read it again, and rediscovered what was inside.) Most recently I read his book A Man Without A Country, recommended to me by my friend Eljay. (She was my girlfriend in high school more than 40 years ago, and we still e-mail each other from time to time.) I highly recommend you read that book. It’s not a novel, but more of a commentary on life in America. Other Vonnegut favorites of mine: Player Piano, the short story collection Welcome to the Monkey House, the classics Slaughterhouse Five and Sirens of Titan, the brilliant Mother Night, and the play Happy Birthday, Wanda June. (I know Vonnegut said later that he didn’t like Wanda June, but some of the ideas in it were brilliant nonetheless, particularly the notion that older people play shuffleboard because they are being prepared for the afterlife, where shuffleboard is the all-consuming pastime.) Adieu, Mr. Vonnegut. And thank you, Alma, for giving Vonnegut to us.
