Final Farewell

[LadyKestrel]

We took Dave's ashes out to sea this past Tuesday. Before we boarded the boat, a bugler played Taps and performed the flag folding ceremony, which was very moving. We went out the Barnegat Inlet to the 2-mile limit, and each person said something about how Dave affected his or her life. We then threw red, white and blue flowers into the water, and his sister and I, with the help of her husband, poured his ashes into the field of flowers. We circled the area 3 times and the captain sounded the boat's horn each time we came around. It was a meaningful farewell that touched all of us deeply. We then went out to dinner and raised several glasses to Dave's memory.

[draclvr]

I simply can't imagine a more fitting tribute and farewell for a man who lived his life so very well.

[StarLite]

Your message brought tears to my eyes LadyK. A very beautiful tribute indeed. Farewell biker with a heart of gold

[Jude]

I remember him from the Applelinks forums.

[Kickaha]

It must have been hard to say farewell to such a major part of your life LadyK, but you feel you've said it properly now?

[mbday630]

That was beautiful, LadyK.

[Diat60]

It sounds like a memorable ceremony which you will always remember.

[Val]

What a beautiful farewell Lady K.

[Rosaboobie]

What a wonderful tribute, LadyK x x

[LadyKestrel]

It was very special. One of the things that touched me was that Phil, one of Dave's best army buddies, drove the boat for awhile. When Phil arrived in Vietnam, he was assigned to the same boat company as Dave but knew nothing about driving one. Dave, who was always a good teacher, taught him the basics about the Mike boat, and later in the tour, when Dave's boat started sinking in a fire fight with the Viet Cong, Phil came to the rescue and hauled it to safety. Dave always said that Phil saved his life that day. Phil insists that he just kept Dave from getting his feet wet.

[draclvr]

What a great story! So wonderful Phil could be there for this special day.

[Lucien21]

I'm sure it must have been a difficult day, but it sounds like a fitting tribute and a testimony of how much he will be missed by everyone.

May he rest in peace.

[Winfrey]

Great way to send him off... we did something similar for Carol's mom and dad... they had a special place on the river 3 boats of family had a very private and special send off.... nice way to remember them leaving us....