American Civil Liberties Union

You can play "Taps" tomorrow for the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that prevented gay service members from serving openly.

The policy itself will be consigned to the dustbin of history when its repeal takes effect Tuesday. However, its legacy will still be felt by service members honorably discharged during the 18 years DADT was in place.

Richard Collins was one of them. Collins was a decorated Air Force staff sergeant, who was spotted kissing his boyfriend off-base and not in uniform. Collins, who served for nine years, was honorably discharged. But a Pentagon policy dictated that service members booted out of the military for "homosexuality," only receive half of the separation pay they would be entitled to.

The Obama administration today released its strategy to prevent violent extremism, which outlines a broad initiative involving federal, state, and local agencies.

Hina Shamsi, Director of the ACLU National Security Project, called the strategy a “step in the right direction.”

“However, its true test will be the level of transparency the government provides into who it is monitoring and why, and whether law enforcement activities comply with the Constitution and our laws.”

We told you yesterday about the plight of Raquel Nelson, a suburban Atlanta woman who was convicted of charges connected to the death of her four-year-old son, who was killed last year by a drunk driver as they crossed a street.

Nelson was found guilty of homicide by vehicle, jaywalking and reckless conduct, and faced up to three years in prison, even though the driver in the hit-and-run tragedy only served six months in jail. Fortunately, some common sense prevailed in court yesterday, when state Judge Kathleen Tanksley sentenced Nelson to a year’s probation and community service. Tanksley also took the unusual step of offering Nelson the option of a new trial, which she has accepted in an effort to clear her name. Good for her. Better yet, the state should drop all charges and allow Nelson and her family the opportunity to fully heal from this horrible accident.