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, and his wife, Dana... my Air Force
daughter in law both serve over in Iraq, I know we could have lost either
of them over there. 

My keeping up daily with my blog - Remember The Fallen, and
signing the guestbooks, has taken time away from my personal blog here.....
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,

 

Deb Estep ~

Ohio

Proud Air Force Mom SSgt
Vince – Lackland AFB

Proud Air Force MIL SrA
Dana – Randolph AFB

 

Remembering The Fallen –
Blog

http://tinyurl.com/3z8p55

 

 

Angel and soldier drawing
I have shared here.

http://tinyurl.com/6gey8b