posted 05-10-2005 07:51 AM               

I am very weary, so I need your help.

My father passed early this morning. He would have been 80 this year. He was a signalman in the navy, transported P-38's after the Korean war, barnstormer and crop duster when he returned to Yakima. He was the reason I have a great interest in Space. As a Child, he made sure my sisters and I watched each launch on the old B&W. Living in Yuma made him happy for all the Aircraft to watch. Now I and his friends must eulogize him.

I need any type of prayers that are used for either pilots or astronauts. You may either post here or email me at my hotmail address in my profile. I'm hopping around on public computers, as I am not home, but going between Phoenix and Yuma. He belonged to several service groups and I would like to give them a selection for them to decide upon, depending on his relationship to them.

No sadness, it has been a long, ongoing illness and I'm glad he is now at peace.

In closing, I ask that no matter your age, PLEASE have your end of life wishs in a legal form and have it with the proper person. My last ten days have been hell since dad didn't have this done. Don't put your loved ones through the battle I just finished fighting.

With Thanks and Regards to all,

posted 05-10-2005 08:24 AM               

Very sorry to hear of your loss. My father had a similar problem after the death of my mother back in 1983 as she also did not have a legal document (or last will and testament) prepared.

There is an aviatior's version of "The Navy Hymn" which I think may be appropriate for your father's service; the words can be found at http://www.raf-benfund.org.uk/rafhymn.htm .

posted 05-10-2005 08:54 AM               

So sorry for your loss. This poem has always meant a lot to me, and even though it refers to English aircrew the message is universal. It's by John Masefield:

Walking the darkness, far from home, at midnight,

Sometimes I see them, lighted at the wing-tips,

The cockpits winking with the spark of signals,

The outbound bombers.

My thought perceives them switch away the sidelight

And cease to signal as they drive to danger,

From England, over sea, to blackened Europe

Where fire awaits them.

I say 'Oh come home safely, midnight darers,

And may a day dawn when the youth of nations

Will hold like purpose, striving to make perfect

posted 05-10-2005 10:32 AM               

"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God."

— John Gillespie Magee, Jr

Sorry for your loss.

Matt

posted 05-10-2005 12:37 PM              

My prayers are with you and your father.

Gordon Lightfoot sang in the song "Edmund Fitzgerald"; "all that remains are the faces and names of the wifes and the sons and the daughters". Your father is very well memorialized by you!

A beloved Air Force uncle passed away a few years ago. The singing of the Air Force Song ("Off we go in to the wild Blue Yonder") was very welcome.

Paul in Florida (little Buzz's Grandfather); can you add any?

posted 05-10-2005 09:02 PM               

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow;
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain;
I am the gentle Autumn's rain.

When you awaken in the Morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there;
I did not die.

posted 05-11-2005 06:07 AM               

Sorry to hear of your loss. Here's a poem fitting for all aviators that I think your Dad would like:

FLYING WEST

I hope there's a place, way up in the sky.
Where pilots can go, when they have to die.
A place where a guy can buy a cold beer
For a friend or a comrade, whose memory is dear.

A place where no doctor or lawyer can tread,
Nor a management type would ere be caught dead;
Just a quaint little place, kind of dark, full of smoke,
Where they like to sing loud, and love a good joke;
The kind of place where a lady could go,
And feel safe and protected, by the men she would know.

There must be a place where old pilots go,
When their paining is finished, and their airspeed gets low.
Where the whiskey is old, and the women are young,
And songs about flying and dying are sung.
Where you'd see all the fellows who'd flown west before,
And they'd call out your name, as you came through the door,

posted 05-11-2005 08:30 AM               

Very sorry to hear about your loss.

posted 05-11-2005 09:07 AM               

I'm so sorry about your Dad. You and your entire family are in my prayers.

There's a song by Josh Groban called "To Where You Are". It's not a poem, but it might be helpful.

Here are the words:

"To Where You Are"

Who can say for certain
Maybe you're still here
I feel you all around me
Your memory's so clear

Deep in the stillness
I can hear you speak
You're still an inspiration
Can it be (?)
That you are my
Forever love
And you are watching over me from up above

Fly me up to where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile
If only for awhile to know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are

Are you gently sleeping
Here inside my dream
And isn't faith believing
All power can't be seen

As my heart holds you
Just one beat away
I cherish all you gave me everyday
'Cause you are my
Forever love
Watching me from up above

And I believe
That angels breathe
And that love will live on and never leave

Fly me up
To where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile
If only for awhile
To know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are

I know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are

Joe

posted 05-13-2005 10:21 AM               

Again, accept my regards and appreciation. I know Dad's giving you a big thumbs up too!