The Weekly Encourager - May 25, 2012 - Memorial Day Dad
As we begin another Memorial Day weekend, I want to share with you what one friend wrote to another about the passing of his father who had served faithfully in the U.S. Military.
Butch Rowe wrote the following to Staige Kern:
I got word of your Dad's passing.... Your dad sounds a lot like my Pop. He didn't want the whole "honors" thing either....I've found in 27 years of ministry that many in our fathers' age group are hesitant to put themselves or their achievements on display. I fear our country's young people today have a lot to learn about willing service with the humility they showed. But I'd like to share with you a gift I gave my father a few years ago as a way of comforting you in your loss.
When I was a kid, he gave me a box full of military insignia and medals that showed his rank and accomplishments in the service, starting with military college, and finishing with his rank during his second hitch in the Army Air-Corps, ending with the rank of 1st Lt. in Army intelligence. I was too young to appreciate them. I broke some, and lost some, and left them in a drawer for years. But for Christmas a few years back, after he had grown ill, and we knew it was just a matter of time, I found that old box. And with the help of the U.S. Army (I needed both their permission/authorization and their help in securing the materials), I replaced all his insignia and medals (a few were updated versions, and I needed some heavy guns to get his Intelligence insignia). I made them into a shadow box display on an Army Air-Corps class A dress background, and I included this note:
Father
A young man takes the values and principles he learns from his parents with him throughout his life. To them, he adds the discipline, knowledge, and training of a soldier, the love and sacrifice he gives as a husband, and the leadership and experience he gains in the business world. Finally, he adds faith. All these are mixed together to form a character, to prepare him to become one of God's most wonderful gifts: A father. When I was young, I played with these medals. I lost some, and broke some. Many years later, I learned what they really meant. They are a part of what makes a father. My father. Now, I give them back, having learned their lesson: proud to bear his name, to have his love, and to learn from him what God's deepest nature is. A father.
Merry Christmas, Pop, with all my respect and love.
Your Son,
Al
Butch continues: I wanted to share this with you, because your Dad sounds a lot like mine. I saw my Pop cry only twice in my life. The first was when he lost mother. The second was when he read these words. He told me then something I'd like to share with you now. A father's greatest achievement is his children. The men and women they become, and the fathers (and mothers) they become in their turn. Then, to my surprise, he told me he was proud of what I had made of what he built into me. And although it's been years since you and I spent much time together, I remember seeing those qualities in you when we were in school. And I still see them today, matured and bearing the fruit that our fathers planted, and being the man and father I know your Dad is proud of even now. So be comforted, my friend. Your Dad is with you even now, watching from the sidelines, and telling the Lord, "You see that man right there, Lord? That's my son. Boy, I'm proud of him!" And I believe the Lord will say, "Yeah, me too."
"His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Mt. 25:21
This gift now hangs on my wall as a memory of him. Now I know why this gift has been on my mind. God was reminding me so I could share it with you. The loss will be with us until we see them again in heaven, but the pain does become less sharp as time passes. May the God of our comfort bless and keep you and yours.
I'll be praying for you,
Butch Rowe
I thought this was a beautiful tribute to Butch's dad, and to all fathers and mothers who served. A big THANK YOU to all our veterans and their families. I thank God for their willing service to our nation.
j
The letter quoted was written by Alvin John Rowe III (“Butch”) on 12/28/11 and is shared with his permission.