JAIME FORSYTHE: LOCAL WAR STORIES >>>

The editor of several best-selling books, Andrew Carroll has joined forces with David Fischer, executive director of the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, to bring Tacoma stories from his book Operation Homecoming: Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Home Front in the Words of U.S. Troops and Their Families.

The book’s title may not roll off the tongue, but the stories are touching accounts of war. Fischer explained that the book, published in 2006, was made possible through a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Nationally renowned writers such as Tom Clancy worked with service members and their families across the country in workshops to develop the stories. Hundreds of stories were accepted for possible publication in the book, and Carroll was the man responsible for selecting and editing the stories.

“I’ve been aware of the project and always appreciated it,” Fischer commented. “I thought why don’t we do a salute to the book and also add our own update to it with local stories.”

For the past month, the Broadway Center accepted stories from local Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their family members, who have endured lengthy deployments. Carroll agreed to select the best local stories and edit them for inclusion in the live performance of Operation Homecoming at Theatre on the Square tonight.

Fischer expects the show to contain several local stories, but a majority of the stories will be from the national community.

[Theatre on the Square, Operation Homecoming, Saturday, March 15, 3 and 7:30 p.m., $12-$24, 915 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5894]