LONE PINE, Calif. _ Storm clouds gathered over eastern Sierra Nevada peaks on a recent weekday when Allen Berrey spotted a modest granite headstone engraved with the name Jose C. Pires.
It was a crummy day to visit Mount Whitney Cemetery, but Berrey had a reason to spend it among hundreds of grave sites decorated with small American flags and flowers.
He stepped up to introduce himself. "Hello there, Joe," he said, with a toothy smile. "I'm a lawyer, and I'm not going to let folks call you derogatory names anymore."
Berrey reached into his backpack and pulled out a bottle of port. He poured a little into a paper cup. Raising it, he said, "Salud!"
