Eight green lights and one long yellow in 55 minutes between my dentist's chair on Meridian and the Friday Harbor ferry followed our mutual failure to explain the military suicides reported in the Time Magazine article on my lap while he worked on me. Then, just another hour and fifteen minutes later, I stumbled onto this Jan. 25, 1941 note from Franklin D. Roosevelt in Friday Harbor's American Legion Museum: "As commander-in-chief I take pleasure in commanding the reading of the Bible to all who serve in the armed forces of the United States. Throughout the centuries, men of many faiths and diverse origins found in the sacred book words of wisdom, counsel and inspiration. It is a fountain of strength and now, as always, an aid in attaining the highest aspirations of the human soul."

Upon visiting my dentist again in two weeks, explaining increased suicides in our military will no longer be a problem!

Terry Montonye

Bellingham