Eulogy for a Minor Star

"It is just strange how really talentless people get huge, and people like Vance, who are very few, don’t make it.”

--Jason Carmer speaking of bandmate and friend, the late Vance Bockis.

Arlington Northwest Olympia 2012

This weekend the Rachel Corrie Chapter 109 Veterans For Peace put up about 3000 military style markers in memory of the American dead from the last 10 years of war and occupation.  It took about five hours to install these which account for less than half of the dead.  In addition, we also installed markers to recognize 100.000 or so civilian dead from these wars.

How many more?

Local photographer Berd Witlock has more photos here.

Traffic Cop in Hell

This morning I learned the term "beachmaster".  It had not occurred to me before that someone was in charge of the "rear" areas on D-Day beaches, under that heavy and deadly fire.  I always pictured the troops landing and moving as units under various coordinated commands, under that same barrage.  Never gave thought to what it took to move those troops in, evacuate the wounded and clear debris. Out in the open.  Under fire.

I do now.