If you know how to read you have a complete education about life then you know how to vote within a democracy. But if you don't know how to read you don't know how to decide. That's the great thing about our country - we're a democracy of readers and we should keep it that way.
Ceremonies are important. But our gratitude has to be more than visits to the troops and once-a-year Memorial Day ceremonies. We honor the dead best by treating the living well.