I will remember you

Birthday card mom left for dad

Epitaph, noun

1. - an inscription on a tomb or gravestone in memory of the person buried there
3. - a short composition in prose or verse, written as a tribute to a dead person

I wonder what my epitaph will be. I was thinking about that yesterday
as I strolled around the Willamette National Cemetery looking at the
markers on the Columbarium 5 wall. I thought it might be beloved daughter
and sister or maybe loyal and devoted friend.

But then I as I was looking at some of the sayings on the markers, I started smiling and then laughing. I found myself wanting to the know their story - wanting to know the person behind the name.

As I said when I started this blog, I love stories. And each one of
these epitaphs conjures all kinds of story possibilities.

FARRETTA, Thomas Albert. US Army - WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam

I am a soldier  

WAGGONER, Charles Albert. US Navy - Viet Nam

Cozmic jammer

BURKERT, Donna. US Navy - WWII

 Loved books, kids & nature

CARTWRIGHT, Farnandeze. US Army Air Corps - WWII

An ethical man

ARON, Morris. US Army - WWII

He sparkled

CAMPBELL, David Dean. US Air Force - Korea, Viet Nam

And that's that story

JONES, William. US Coast Guard

Just plain Bill

CLARK, Karl Edmund. US Army - Viet Nam

Shine on you crazy diamond

JOHNSON, Dale D. US Army - Korea

I love taters & gravy

SHIPMAN, Charles J. US Navy - WWII

I went to see for myself

HANABLE, William S. US Air Force - Viet Nam

Historian Dad

I thought about the family members and friends who came up with the epitahs for these people.  I appreciated how well they knew the man or woman and how they were able to sum up that person's life in a few words.  And I really think those short phrases speak volumes about the life at that person.

Mom said when she joins Dad in Columbarium 5, she wants to following added to the marker:  Holy shit! What a ride!  I'm not sure the staid Willamette National Cemetery will allow that complete sentiment, but I bet we can tweak it enough so that it works. 

And I think I know what I want: She kept us laughing until the end.