Honor Troops' Sacrifice and Vote

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

No state has lost more men and women in Iraq than California. In the roll call of the dead, no other state comes close.

Take a look at the list below. It winds through big city and small town, marching on without end. The fallen soldiers are from north and south, the valleys, the mountains, the coast.



Their names sound familiar; their ages too painful to think about.

They lost their lives on a mission to bring self-determination to Iraq, or so they were told.

On Tuesday, take their memory with you to the voting booth.


• Marine Cpl. Roberto Abad, 22, Bell Gardens

• Army Spc. Genaro Acosta, 26, Fair Oaks

• Army Pfc. Steven Acosta, 19, Calexico

• Navy Reserve Lt. Thomas Mullen Adams, 27, La Mesa

• Marine Cpl. Nicanor Alvarez, 22, San Bernardino

• Marine Staff Sgt. Jimmy J. Arroyave, 30, Woodland

• Army Cpl. Evan Asa Ashcraft, 24, West Hills

• Marine Pfc. Eric A. Ayon, 26, Arleta

• Army 1st Lt. Kenneth Michael Ballard, 26, Mountain View

• Army Spc. James L. Beckstrand, 27, Escondido

• Marine Cpl. Mick R. Bekowsky, 21, Concord

• Army Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Bertolino, 40, Orange

http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-me-lopez31oct31,1,5093616.column?coll=la-news-columns

[Lady Effingbroke]

1. To honor their memory and their sacrifice, I have voted.

It is the very least I can do.

A sincere and heartfelt THANK YOU to all veterans and those currently serving our country.