[Missouri]

Sorry again but I'm having computor problems. Post #82 is not botched up after all.

[BibChr]

I am sorry; death so sucks. What a large hole my own father left by his passing. Ten years later, I still miss him all the time. I feel for you.

My wife offered me the contextualizing thought that our parents are there for us when we are born, loving us and caring for us, and seeing to it that we are comfortable and that our every need is met.

And then it falls to us to do the same for them at the other terminus.

Dan

[ExSoldier]

Not many people get to be present when somebody they love passes on. I was holding my mom's hand when she crossed into Glory in 1998. I hope you were able to (as I was) say everything and anything that needed to be said for a sense of peaceful closure. "Leave nothing unsaid" a very good friend of mine counselled. It made all the difference. Just remember, you never get over such a loss....you merely grow used to it.

There will be times in the future when you have a "Dad moment" (having now lost both my parents, I have them both, but mom more often) in the form of a memory which will spring into your consciousness so sharp and pure that you'll think the event had just happened. The feelings will be sharp, bittersweet and intense. Just let it wash over you and savor the memory....not the pain. God bless.

[omni-scientist]

We are witnessing the last few lights of a never-to-be-seen-again generation slowly dim and go out.

I remember growing up in the 50's in the shadow of The War, and of knowing even a few WW-I veterans. Those men have long passed away; but with the latter War, we have only a few remaining chances to hear the stories told of those who fought and died, and to know firsthand the true character of those who fought and lived.

Whatever memories you hold dear of those close to you, make sure they are not forgotten and never let go.

[FreeReign]

My father died yesterday and I had the privilige of standing next to him and saying goodbye as he took his last breaths.

God bless you and your family.

My dad was a WWII vet -- he received a purple heart at Monte Cassino in Italy, fighting Nazis. He never volunteered to me much about his experiences in the war.

Unfortunately, I was just a goofy teenager when he died so I never got around to asking him about what he did over there and I never got a chance to thank him for all that he did to make the world better.

Did you get a chance to thank your dad?

[Cacique]

May he rest in peace, he joins my father and others of that generation. We can only hope that we are worthy neough to fill their shoes.

[USMC_tangocharlie]

Our nation can never repay the debt we owe to men like your father.

Hand Salute.

Tango

[hope]

Your family will be in my prayers tonight. Please know that even though the loss is enormous God heals the open wound that it leaves over time...

Your dad was very young at 16 and very brave....We are so blessed to come from that generation..You see the so called Peace Protestors out there and you know they don't have a clue to what it took to defend their freedoms to make fools of themselves as they do...

My dad was also 16 when he enlisted...He was a Calvary man in the 112th Regiment during WWII. He did not talk much about it and we never asked ...

It surely is a loss for us kids not to know more about his service to our country...But, from what I understand it was not a pretty story to tell. So many children became real men at that time. God bless each of them that still remain...And to those who still have them in their lives, cherish them and ask them alot of questions then pass it along to your children...

[Genesis defender]

Prayers of comfort for your family and others who miss your father....

It is often said that the grieving process can be helped along by recalling positive memories of the deceased loved one. Are there any other humorous stories involving your father that made you smile?

[Ol' Sox]

God bless you and your dad. I've lost both my dad (a China Marine!) and uncle (a Marine Sgt. WIA at Okinawa), and I miss them both very much. Thankfully, I still have my step-dad who was a combat engineer in Europe and went ashore at Normandy. He and his unit built many bridges on the way to Germany and wound up in Czechoslovakia. Bless his heart, it still pains him to talk about what they found there.