A letter writer from Ramstein, Germany, casts shame on Stars and Stripes for a front-page article that ran June 21 [in her edition]. The article quoted an Air Force report as saying that most military bases in Europe that store nuclear weapons do not meet Defense Department security rules. "That kind of information in the hands of the wrong people could result in a catastrophic incident," wrote Betty Schultz.

Around July 4th, our country stops to remember our freedom and the price that has been paid to obtain it. Some of the costs of military service are not so obvious. The July 6 Spouse Calls column features a blogger's comment about some the consequences in her life, and the life of her military husband.

To skip to her blog entry, to read or to offer support or advice, Click here.

I just separated from the military after completing 5 years active duty and my husband is still active duty. I am currently receiving my GI Bill benefits to pay for my education (which is barely enough). What about the veterans that are married to active duty personnel, will we also receive $1,000 monthly for housing and living expenses?

-- S. Aylor 

It’s amazing what four words uttered by a little pig-tailed girl in a comic strip can stir up. The character, Carmen, is a regular in the "Prickly City" cartoon strip that appears daily on Stars and Stripes’ Opinion page. In the May 29 entry, an elephant representing the Republican Party is seen getting smaller panel by panel, until in the last one Carmen calls it "the party of torture."

Good old Deutsche Bahn! They recently posted a rather enticing offer. You can now buy yourself a Deutschland-Pass, valid for unlimited travel throughout Germany over a one-month period, for just 299 euros. Travel must be completed by Aug. 31. If you’re age 26 or under, that same pass can be had for just 249 euros.

The Department has put up it's own question and answer site here -- I think this mailbag has covered most of these already, but I wanted to put the link up so you can read the official word on the issues.

One thing I did miss: The new bill includes a one-time payment of $500 for moving expenses for certain individuals relocating from "highly rural areas." The bill spells out that the money is available for anyone who lives in a county with less than seven people per square mile, and either:

-- must travel more than 500 miles to attend their college of choice, or

-- must travel by air to attend their college "due to an absence of road or other infrastructure"

I’d love to hear back from some of the visitors to this blog. So here’s my question to you: What has been your favorite European getaway over the past year or so? What made that particular trip so special?

Spouse Calls in July includes two columns featuring “Military Widow: A Survial Guide,” co-authored by Joanne Steen and Regina Asaro.

To read the July 13 column, Click here.

After reading the book, I talked to Joanne for more insight in to the lives of military widows and how to reach out to them.

It’s always been known around here that the comics are closely read pages of this newspaper. Their purpose is to elicit a chuckle or two in the midst of our workaday lives. But for some readers they can also evoke a frown. This seems especially true as, over the years, many comic strips have added political and social commentary to the funny lines and drawings. At least they are meant to be funny. And that’s the point: Is humor still the goal and reason for being of comics? For me, the laugh’s the thing, but I don’t have a monopoly on grading comics.

One of the best things about visiting a large European city is wandering around it by foot. But unless you have the pleasure of the company of a knowledgeable insider, you are bound to miss a lot. If London, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich or Paris figure into your travel plans, you can sign up for a walking tour that will cost you nothing, save what you wish to tip your guide.