The Gentle Warrior

I woke up before hubby this morning. He was laying on his back, his arms stretched out above him. We have these burgundy sheets on the bed and he looked so handsome and so peaceful wrapped in them. I remember years ago, also waking up beside hubby, but for one of the first times. I remember thinking, how did I find such a handsome man to sleep in my blue and yellow flowery sheets? I feel like a lucky lady today.

Today is the anniversary of the death of my uncle. He was 44, the father of 3, and was killed in a bombing in Namibia, Africa. It was 1984. My mother was 38, I was 7. Unfortunately, I don't remember him well. I know he was gentle, kind, and smart. He was my godfather. It was the first time I remember seeing my mom sobbing. She was devastated over her lost brother, who died too early. It was on the nightly news because he was in the foreign service. He was there trying to negotiate peace between Namibia and Zimbabwe, which were fighting at the time. He and his partner had stopped at a gas station to fill up. The whole station blew up as soon as they got out of the car. They think it was the act of guerrilla fighters who did not want peace in the country. My uncle and his partner were flown to a hospital in Germany. Neither made it. My cousins, who are twins, were 14 at the time. My other cousin was 11.

Soon after his death my whole family flew to Washington D.C. My mother, my aunt, my cousins, and my grandparents went to the White House and met President Reagan. He presented them with a medal of honor for my uncle's service and the American flag. Apparently, there is a wall in the State Department with his name on it, as well as his partner's, Kenneth G. Crabtree, for diplomats killed in service. His name was Dennis Whyte Keogh.

On the American Foreign Service Association memorial plaque list site my uncle is listed. http://www.afsa.org/plaquelist.cfm
I went to this site and was shocked at how many American heroes have died, been murdered, been assassinated, in other countries while trying to instill peace. It also makes me think of American soldiers, civilians and innocent folks who are killed in countries like Iraq everyday now. I feel ever so thankful that hubby and my boys were laying peacefully in their beds in our house today. I don't know what you do when you lose a father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, uncle, aunt, or friend, in war or peace, or anytime.

Uncle Den's kids, my cousins, had a very hard time. The twins used to go running with him. One of the twins promptly hurt her knee after his death and had a hard time with that leg for a long time. She stopped running for years. I believe she runs now though.

My other twin cousin began having epileptic seizures, soon after his death. She was involved with the theater, doing set work. But then she fell off a ladder when she had a seizure. She also fell off a bus once and got banged up badly. Friends and family began fundraising for her to have a dog who could sense when the seizures were coming. Her dog's name was Nikki, and she took that dog everywhere. She endured 15 years of seizures. She took medication, and I believe she still does. However she got married and wanted a child badly. She has a 2 year old now and hasn't had a seizure in 7 years!

I know my cousin who was 11 at the time, also had a rough time. I believe he didn't always tell the truth. He's married now too, with his own child and still lives in D.C.

I think it has always been hard for my mom. And for everyone who has lost someone close to them.

My uncle Den is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. His tombstone reads, "Gentle Warrior". This seems to be an exceptionally well suited name for him. For all of the gentle warriors out there, may peace be with you always.