21 Gun Salute

The sound still echoes in my ears, the loud pop from the officers firing the rounds signaling the death of my father. After the funeral, the spent shells were passed out to the children, and grandchildren. Holding the shell in my hand, I knew it had to be put into something that expressed who George was.

How does one depict a life well-lived? Both intensely patriotic, soft spoken and kind, he embodied the best of what a person could be.  At 19 he served his country in a B26 bomber as its pilot, later in the Korean war as well. Raising a family of five children, and later a second family, he was known to be a mentor to many.

Strong in his views and values, but tearful at the telling of his war stories, George was a man of multiple facets, all admirable. Politically he and I held opposing views but our values were the same.