Thelma's Memorial Day Thoughts on Grandpa 5/28/06

May 30, 2006: This is the the first Memorial Day in my memory that Dad will not be here to celebrate his birthday. He is now among those many remembered for their sacrifices to make our great country free.

I am reminded of the hymn No. 337 �It may not be my part in the front ranks of battle to fight, but unhonored, unknown .... I will stand at my post where he needeth me most.� I believe we can all say that Dad (Grandpa) stood at his post. The constancy and consistency of his service has been emphasized by all who remember him. The revised hymn words this a bit differently, but the older version seems to say this thought best.

He, too, did his part in World War II, in those cold regions of Alaska, building shelters and bridges for our american servicemen--and he volunteered to do it--with a wife and two small children at home! He had many good excuses to not perform that service!

A popular song in the early 1960�s has been on my mind (sung by Eddie Fisher): �Oh, My PaPa�. The words best express my thoughts at this time:

Oh, my PaPa, to me you are so wonderful.
To me he was so good.
No one could be so gentle and so lovable.
Oh, my PaPa, he always understood.
So funny, so adorable, always the clown, so funny in his way.
Gone are the days when he would take me on his knee and with a smile, he�d change my tears to laughter.
Oh, my PaPa, deep in my heart I miss you so today.

We all know Grandpa had difficult parts of his personality, also; but this song best sums up the good thoughts I remember about him on this Memorial Day. Lovingly, his daughter, Thelma Burgess Hennen (also see memorial to Grandma Mary Burgess)