Celebrating 70 Years

In just a few short days, my uncle will turn seventy. A pretty significant milestone in its own right. Accompany that with the fact that he is the oldest living male in my family's history, that we know of, makes this an even greater accomplishment. I am pretty proud of my uncle. He is retired Navy and a decorated hero from the Vietnam war. But more importantly than that he will always hold a very special place in my heart. Thirty seven years ago today, my father and his brother died of a massive heart attack. It was Roy that was assigned the task of coming to where I was sleeping at my grandmother's house to give me the worse news a 10 year old boy could ever hear. I often wondered how he was chosen for that assignment. Perhaps it was because he was the oldest sibling and back in the day things like that mattered. Or maybe it was because it was something that had to be done, and as a soldier he saw to it. I don't know why, but I am sure glad he did.

Later in the day, as family and friends began to gather at my grandmother's home I heard my uncle explaining to his oldest son what had happened. Very simply Uncle Bennie had gone to heaven. I don't remember a lot about my uncle for the rest of that day, or even through the funeral services that followed. However, I will never forget waking up and seeing his face the morning of my father's death. Of all the medals that decorate the uniform of my uncle, none are any more meaningful to me than the one earned that day in grandmother's back bedroom on December 23, 1971. Thanks Uncle Roy, and Happy Birthday!