Daily Blues & Views

       I recently read about a project concerning the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. A group has decided that an individual photograph of all 58,000 of those names on the wall should be assembled and displayed so that people could see more accurately who these people were.  That is, what they looked like.  Of course, what immediately came to mind was the Life Magazine cover of June 1969.  That week an even 100 U.S. servicemen had been killed in Vietnam.  In previous weeks the numbers were higher, like 350 or 473.  But the even 100 prompted the editors of Life to issue a special fold-out cover.  The photographs of all 100 GIs were printed so the nation could see the faces behind the numbers.  The impact was immediate and overwhelming.     I was in training with the VISTA Volunteer program in Austin Texas that week.  I vividly recall someone having a copy of that magazine and on an afternoon break from the trai...

 His name was Larry.  He was about 14 years old when I met him back in 1971.  As a newly employed counselor in a residential treatment facility for kids that were classified as dependent/neglected, I had a lot to learn.  Employed was hardly the proper term.  It was $50. a month and room and board.  The counselors were mostly conscientious objectors to the Viet Nam War, and the placement there was a form of alternative service.  The theory was that to be classified as an alternative service, the work must disrupt your life.  Trying to live on $50. dollars a month will certainly do that.   (Photo David Soffa) Most of the kids that occupied the 3 houses which comprised "The Saint George Homes" were either violent or learning disabled.  They had been placed by either their parents or a court order.  Some had lived at other facilities, but because of their behavior were either expelled or encouraged to find another placement. ...