Sgt. Leonard Matlovich’s Grave

sgt-leonard-matlovich1

I believe this to be the saddest headstone I have ever seen (click the image to enlarge). It belongs to Technical Sergeant Leonard Matlovich (1943-1988), a Vietnam War veteran, recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, and advocate for equality.

Matlovich was a brave, openly gay man who fought for his country and asked nothing in return but acceptance. Now, over two decades after his death, other brave military personal continue to fight for Matlovich’s simple request: to be allowed to serve.

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Isaac Fitzgerald has been a firefighter, worked on a boat, and was once given a sword by a king, thereby accomplishing three out of five of his childhood goals. Formerly of The Rumpus and McSweeney’s and most recently the founding editor of BuzzFeed Books, Isaac is now the co-host of BuzzFeed News’ Twitter Morning Show, #AMtoDM. He also appears frequently on The Today Show to talk books, and is co-author of Pen & Ink: Tattoos and the Stories Behind Them and Knives & Ink: Chefs and the Stories Behind Their Tattoos (with Recipes) (winner of an IACP award), and the author of a YA novel and picture book forthcoming from Bloomsbury. He uses Twitter.

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