Well this week sure sucks...

[02ducky]

Ronin- sorry for your loss, your grandfather sounds like a heck of a man that lead a great life.

[Jer]

Sorry buddy. I've been through similar things and we actually just had to move my mom into our house this week too due to her cancer getting worse. In the process of trying to get all of her belongings packed up and out of her apartment. Sometimes life has plans other than what we'd like but unfortunately that's just part of it. Hang in there man, it will get better.

[Zundfolge]

Well this sounds familiar ... I'm currently in the sweat-box (Wichita, KS) we had my father's funeral yesterday (he passed on the 14th).

He was a Viet Nam vet (two tours) and I always find the color guard moving.

[TheGrey]

Well this sounds familiar ... I'm currently in the sweat-box (Wichita, KS) we had my father's funeral yesterday (he passed on the 14th).

He was a Viet Nam vet (two tours) and I always find the color guard moving.

Augh. I'm sorry for your loss, too.

[Zundfolge]

Thanks ... he'd been fighting emphysema for the last few years and the last 8-10 months was pretty rough so it wasn't a huge surprise. So let that be a lesson, don't smoke.

[Chad0724]

Sorry for your loss :/ Prayers coming your way tonight

[TheGrey]

Thanks ... he'd been fighting emphysema for the last few years and the last 8-10 months was pretty rough so it wasn't a huge surprise. So let that be a lesson, don't smoke.

Indeed! I lost both my Grandpa and my Grandma to complications from emphysema. It took my Grandma 15 years to succumb. Just say no to smokes.

[Rabid]

So sorry Ronin and Zundfolge. It is never easy but at least the good memories will last.

[Ronin13]

So to update- and please forgive me ahead of time, I'm not exactly what you would classify as "sober" at this time- but today was the day we laid my grandfather to rest and celebrated his life. I was able to keep it together throughout my short 2 paragraph eulogy until the last statement "I have some big boots to fill." But one thing I have found, and anyone who has ever been associated with or involved with Emergency Services knows the familial bonds that are shared among members and family of these great services to our communities. I was completely blown away by the amount of love and support the Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department brought to not only the memorial service, but also the small group that came out to the burial this morning. Even if I will never don the bunker gear that my grandfather and father wore, I still consider these great folks my second family.
Here's a little something they did for my grandpa today to show their support of a 25-year veteran of the EVFD:

[baglock1]

I'm sorry for your loss Ronin.

I also lost my grandfather last February. He was also 88. I think they were two men cut of the same cloth. Mine was a B-25 pilot, came home to build a business from the ground up (which continues to thrive under the leadership of my father and two uncles), had more adventures in any given year than most people have in a lifetime, and continues to be a hero/role model to me. I think Grandpa Baglock and Grandpa Ronin probably would have gotten along pretty well. Heck, maybe they're currently passing a bottle of tequila back and forth and swapping war stories.

Whenever I hear about the loss of another member of the "Greatest Generation," I think of the sacrifices they made, voluntarily and eagerly, and renew a commitment to try and live a life deserving of them.

My condolences again Ronin. I'll keep him in my thoughts this weekend.