Monday, May 28, 2007, MEMORIAL DAY

Today, we celebrate the remembrance of Loved ones who have passed into eternity, and especially I want to Honor loved ones who have served in the Military of the United States of America. Today, I honor Great Uncle Wallace Cook, my father Spencer Howard Stephenson, both serving in World War I, cousins Robert Stephenson, Charles Stephenson, James Stephenson, Warren Stephenson, George Machacek, and uncles Ray Whipple and Ralph Cook serving in World War II, then nephews Robert Keith Cook, William (Bill) Cook, brother Harold Stephenson and myself, all serving in the Korean Conflict, and Brother in Law John Christenson serving in the Viet Nam War, nephew Terry Stephenson, and lastly my great nephew Patrick Lazenby. May this list never get any longer.

I would be remiss however if I did not also Honor Herman Walters Jr, my best man, Roy Steck my bunk mate during basic training, Ralph Wetmore, James Clancy, James Drubel, Ardith and Cledith Smith, Gene Zingula, Donald McAtee, Marvin Sherman, Henry Pohs, Bob Tudeen, and a host of others, many I can no longer remember their names.

As I grow older and get more forgetful some of my good Army buddies names just won't come to my mind anymore. I'm struggling with my buddy who lives in Denver. Got it. There may also be those ancestors who served in the Spanish American War and the Civil War, but todate my historical searching has not turned up any such brave men.

War is not a pleasant thing to be looked forward to. I know when I was awaiting my "Greetings from the President" letter, I didn't have a fear of dying should I go to war, for I seem to recall thinking that my blood if spilled was no better than someone else's. I would not be where I am today had I not served my Country. It was because of my service, that brought me to the West Coast of the United States and because my Army buddy Jr. Walters (Herman Walters Jr) lived in Portland, it was here that I met my wife of now 51 years.

So, war is always bad, we think of the maiming and killing that takes place, and this is bad, but there is good in serving our country, possibly the greatest country in the world. Good can be because with sufficient man power the threat of war from other countries is diminished.

I'll leave War for now, and also honor and remember other great people in my life, and that would be my mother Clista, my in laws Paul and Irene Buck, Donna's brother Pete, Aunt Stella Whipple, Grandpa and Grandma Schmickle and Stephenson's. Aunt Myrtle and Uncle Adlai, Uncle Ira and Aunt Stella Stephenson. Grandpa and Grandma Cook and Grandpa and Grandma Buck. Kelly and Jewell Cook, Val and Eva Cook, Margie Cook, all passed on into Glory now.

I think of Pastors who I have sit and listened to who have gone onto their Eternal Rewards in Heaven, Willard Backer, Rev. Kearney, and who can forget all the wonderful Christian brothers and sisters who have reached their goal. I visited several of their graves just the other day, and will visit them again probably today or tomorrow again.

And, yes, Donna and I have chosed the plot of ground that we will someday have our bodies lowered into, and children, grandchildren and loved ones will someday visit us too. What more can I say, God is so good to each of us.

I close with a quote that my mother sent in one of her letters, that I think is appropriate, "what your do for yourself dies with you, what you do for others lives on and on". Do good for others today. Cheers!