Walt and Vi

There was a fellow named Walt. Walt spent most of his younger years in and around Muscatine. Came WWII, and Walt's country called. Walt answered. He fought in the European Theater. At one point he was injured badly enough that he was not expected to survive. He did survive, and returned home after the war.

There was a woman named Violet. During WWII Vi worked at the former Servus Rubber in Rock Island. That company was geared up for war production. "They also serve who only stand and wait" said Milton. Vi waited but she did a lot more than just stand.

After the War Walt met Vi. They married, then they had children. And children  And children. Fourteen in all - three sons, eleven daughters. One of those sons dies in infancy. The other two also served when their country called them to duty in Vietnam - Joe in the USMC, Donald in the Army. Seems that words like honor and duty burned bright in Walt and Vi's home.

One of Walt and Vi's daughters grew up and married me. Cindy and I will celebrate our 35th anniversary in June. We had five kids - four daughters - and twelve grandkids. When Walt and Vi's kids have a family reunion it's quite a sight. "Who are you? And whose are you?!"

Mortality caught up with Walt and Vi, as it does, eventually, to all of us. Walt's been gone since 1988, and Vi since 2007. Today Cindy and I placed flowers on their graves. Those graves are in one of those places where the ghosts are never far away - The National Cemetery on Arsenal Island in Rock Island. It's where Cindy and I expect to be buried, since I am an honorably discharged veteran of the US Navy. I'm very proud of that.

So we placed the flowers on the grave. We stood a few moments and said a prayer. I made the sign of the cross, and we left in silence. To say much of anything would have seemed just wrong.

One weird visual juxtaposition occurred as we were leaving. The National Cemetery is very near the Confederate Cemetery. During the Civil War there was a prison camp for confederate POW's on Arsenal Island. Just across the street is the Rock Island Arsenal Golf Course. So, on this most hallowed of days for Americans, in this most hallowed of places, as we left we saw golf carts chugging around.

Walt and Vi, thanks for your service, both at home and in Europe. Thanks for raising such an interesting family filled with such honorable people - sons and daughters who have the integrity to live to the best lights they know. Thanks for raising my best friend, my spouse, my lover who has given me 35 wonderful years.

Thank you!