A Personal Journey

Posted by Buck Jacobs on May 9th, 2010 | no comments home title

I recently took a very personal roadtrip to visit the Rock Island National Cemetery. My dad, a WWII vet, is buried there. He died in 1971, two years befor I met Jesus and, at the time I didn’t know how to deal with death. It was a bad time for me and I responded badly. I never felt that I said goodbye or honored my dad properly and for years have wanted to go back and do it right. On Friday I got the chance and all I can say is I am so thankful for it. It was a beautiful exchange – one bad memory for one good one.

I can’t really talk about it yet but I have posted some pictures for those of you who might be interested. It is a sacred place and my dad really rests where he needs to be. He was proud of his service and I am proud of it too. I took a book, “Flight Quarters”, the story of the aircraft carrier that he served on for three years with me and reread it the night before my visit. I also reread the poems he wrote while at sea, many of them to my mother and me. The best one was written on my 4th birthday called “Takeoff at Dawn.”. Between them I was really set for the visit.

I didn’t expect the emotion that gripped me as I walked up and recognized dad’s marker, it was one of the most intense that I have known. I may have been holding it in for 39 years. I spent about an hour in a cold mist that was actually perfect for the time. I just soaked it all in and let my tears flow with the rain. Before I left I faced his grave and saluted. Well done dad! I left in peace.