He Said This - and - Why I do What I do

"I, Robert   _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support
and
defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies,
foreign and
domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance
to the same; and that I
will obey the orders of the
President of the United States and the orders of the

officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the
Uniform Code of
Military Justice. So help me God."

I have no idea at all when Robert said these words, but I do know when the 24 year old
took his last breath on this Earth.   
That was on July 15, 2007 while on duty in Baghdad, Iraq. 

I also know the month and year he took his first breath........March of 1983.

Since March 24th of this year I have signed every guestbook of our Fallen
Heroes on the day they passed.   To date, I have met 1631 of America's finest
men and women.    Hmmmmmmmm I did say met.    Might sound kind of strange
since they are all dead.    Before I actually add my message, I read through the
previous posts.    Sometimes I will even go on the net and try and find out more
about the person.     I can actually ~feel~ them with me.     They reach out and
I hear a THANK YOU.     They know exactly what it will mean to their family and
friends to know ... They are not forgotten.   


My nearly 12 year old Kevin asked me the other day........

'Mommy, why do you do this when it makes you cry' ?

His question came in response to seeing me tear up over an email I read.
That email was from Robert's sister....    This is what she wrote me....


'How beautiful, I am Rob's sister and this has given me
so much reason to hold my head up and know my brother
is at peace. This words have meant more to me than you
will ever know. God Bless you and thank you from the
bottom of my heart. The world needs more people like you.'

I tried my best to explain to my son what my tears were about.   I think
my explanation fell a bit short for his young mind to grasp.

Having had my Air Force son Vince,  serve over in Iraq, I know we could have lost him over there. 
But I hope sharing the words of his sister, one year after his death
helps shed some light on why I do what I do.


I thank you my dear readers for understanding WHY I am not
posting here as often as I used to.    :)


Here is a link to Robert’s guestbook   Legacy Site


This is a copy of the message I post..................

Holding you all in my thoughts and prayers.

The Wind on The Downs

“I like to think of you
as brown and tall,

As strong and living as
you used to be,

In khaki tunic, Sam Brown
belt and all,

And standing there and
laughing down at me.

Because they tell me,
dear, that you are dead,

Because I can no longer
see your face,

You have not died, it is
not true, instead

You seek adventure in
some other place.

That you are round about
me, I believe;

I hear you laughing as
you used to do,

Yet loving all the things
I think of you;

And knowing you are
happy, should I grieve?

You follow and are
watchful where I go.”

 (Written by Marian Allen during World War l )

 Two lines that I wish you
to keep near your heart…….

 “You seek adventure in some other place."

"That you are round about me, I believe”

I did not know Robert, but I am remembering his service. He is my hero. !

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 The Other Side

i'm over on the other side

where life and death
softly divide.

left my skin and bones
behind, now i'm over on the other
side.

can you feel me there
with you?

my breath is gone but I'm not through.

loved you then and i still do from over on the other
side.

 i can fly. really fly.

below the earth ... all
through the sky.

tell em all i did not
die.

I'm just over on the
other side.

it's good here on the other side.

the sweetest songs...the
bluest skies.

thank you for the tears
you cried

but it's good here on the
other side.

 I can fly. really fly.

below the earth...all through the sky.

tell em all i did not die.

I'm just over on the
other side the world is smaller than a needle's eye.

where life and death
softly divide. when you leave your skin
and bones behind

I'll be waiting on the
other side.

 I can fly. really fly. below the earth ... all through the sky.

go tell em all i did not
die. i'm just over on the
other side.

Song lyrics by Don Conoscenti

C Desert Muse/SESAC

www.donconoscenti.com

(Used with permission)

 “I hope it brings great comfort to any and all.

Peace on you.
DonCon” 4-2008

 The Other Side –

(To hear the song)

http://tinyurl.com/3o8gol

Sincerely,  Debra A Estep ~

Ohio

Proud Air Force Mom SSgt
Vince – Lackland AFB