[marktwain]

As the Baby Boomers approach late middle age, our parents are dying. There are not many of the "Greatest Generation" left. Posting to Freerepublic seems to me to be much more permanent than a stone marker in a cementary.

[Perdogg]

Sorry for you loss. Prayers for your family.

[Larry Lucido]

Prayers for a good man.

[MaryFromMichigan]

Beautifully written.
My condolences.

[Larry Lucido]

Prayer ping

[Diana in Wisconsin]

A very nice tribute. I felt the same way about my Grandpa. I miss him every day.

God Bless and Keep your family during this time.

[Tax-chick]

Thank you for a sharing this wonderful story! My very deepest sympathies to you and your family.

[azhenfud]

Thanks for sharing. May the Master comfort you and your's.

[PC99]

Thanks for sharing that great story - it is a good reminder of the hardships and challenges all generations have faced - we need to have the same quiet determination and optimistic will that your father's story illustrates.

[Kimmers]

Thank you for allowing us a glimpse in to a great mans life. You have honored his life.

[Redleg Duke]

As one whose Father came from Amberg, WI, and who grew-up in Wisconsin and plans to retire up there, I want to thank you for the wonderful tribute to your Father! They are a special breed and we are richer for having had them and poorer for their departure. But, we can replace them, if we can retire to take their place!

God blessed your Dad! God blessed you by giving him to you as a Father. And God may bless us all by allowing us to return to our roots as we reach our retirement! In that way, maybe we can inspire our children as we live out our retirement as our Fathers would have wished it!

[Battle Axe]

Do not apologize for your post to Free Republic. We are what makes this site great and it was our fathers that made us that way.

Mine passed away this March 4, also from a stroke. He was 89 1/2. When you are that old, half matters.

He was buried in his Air Force uniform, Lt. Col., and I have the flag that lay on his coffin. We had full military honors, thanks to a niece who was in the Army at the time.

When they hand you the flag, they say...on behalf of the President of the United States......and end something about "your loved one". I just lost it in between those two phrases.

All three of us kids spoke at the funeral. It was something each of us felt compelled to do...the youngest one at the last minute.

There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

[highimpact]

I'm sorry for your loss. Your post was a pleasure to read.

It was during this period that he met my Mother. She was a beauty with flaming red hair and long legs. They met at a dance, and he remarked to one of his friends that she was the woman he was going to marry.

That reminds me of the story I was told by my grandfather before he died. Does anybody remember the story of the Hatfields and McCoys? My grandfather was the grandson of Devilance Hatfield, the father of the Hatfield clan. He served in WW2, sharing a foxhole with the grandson of the grandfather of the McCoy clan (after the families had ended the feud.)

During a dance between his first and second tours, he met my grandmother at a dance. Before the first song had ended, he asked her to marry him. She accepted. When he returned from his second tour, they married.

When I was in high school, I was required to interview a veteran of a foreign war. I called him to ask him about his experience in Germany, Italy, and north Africa. His advice, "never share a foxhole with a McCoy. They never shut up."

[Redbob]

"LeRoy Weingarten belonged to that generation which has been titled “The Greatest”. I do not know if I agree with that appellation generally, but it seemed to apply to him."

And as it seemed to apply to so many others.

Ergo the name: Greatest generation.

They united in spite of some serious political differences to weed out evil.

And many many paid the ultimate price, and so did not have, or did not live to see, a next generation.

I've tried mightily to live up to my father's example, and with only some small success.

You have my deepest sympathy for the loss of yours.

[dontpethesweatythings]

My condolences for your loss.

There is no need for you to apologize.

Prayers for you and the Family.

Hang in there, I know from personal experience that the pain will dwindle over time, but never go away.

[Redbob]

And he lived near Hayward?
What beautiful country!

I've fortunate enough to have visited a couple times a fishing lodge on a lake near there, Spider Lake I think it is, to go Muskie fishing in the fall. Most of what I remember of Hayward is some good old-time bars, friendly people - the sort of place Hemingway would have loved!

[cmsgop]

Im so sorry, he was a Great American, and so are you pal.

[lonestar]

Read every word. Thank you for sharing.

[trussell]

RIP Prayer ping.

Please post your replies to marktwain

Rest in Peace
 LeRoy Weingarten

marktwain, My prayers go up for all who now mourn the passing of your father.  

Blessings,
trussell

If you want on/off my prayer ping list, please let me know. All requests happily honored.

[pwatson]

That was a wonderful eulogy. I just left the hospital where my Dad of 88 years is recovering from surgery on his tail bone where a bed sore worked its way into his bone. He is doing fine, but old age is finally getting him down. He too is of the greatest Generation May 21, 1918. My mom 86 is in a nursing home with stage one Alzheimer's. Never apologize we are the salt of the earth and the patriot's of the Republic. We are the sons and daughters of the best American generation on earth. We are the last stand against the entire world for life, liberty and the pursuit of justice, the American Way. We stand against Democrats, Liberals, The MSM, Muslim Islamist, Socialist, Communist and various Despots of the word. It is your father and mother and mine that made us who we are.

[Biblebelter]

As the Baby Boomers approach late middle age, our parents are dying. There are not many of the "Greatest Generation" left.

This is something that I privately reflect upon quite often. Thank you for publicly sharing your reflections. I am truly sorry for your loss.