This ship, the General M.M. Patrick sailed from Calcutta, India, where my father and many other soldiers embarked, and docked in New York City on September 3, 1945. I was seven days shy of one year old. My father left for overseas in December, 1943 and I was born nine months and a few days later.
Today's post is dedicated to my father, who came to be known as Daddy Boyd in his latter years. He served his country that he loved so dearly in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. Besides helping build the Burma Road, he was also a courier, flying "The Hump" several times. After one trip that required throwing parachutes etc. overboard to get enough altitude to clear the Himalayas, he decided that once on precious American soil again, he would never again fly in an airplane. He kept his word. But he always liked to joke that he wasn't afraid of flying.......he was afraid of not flying.
Last night we watched the Memorial Day Concert from Washington D.C. I came to appreciate even more than ever all those who have fought for their country and especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives. "Freedom is not free" can sound so trite at times but it is so true. Millions of Americans have laid down their lives so that we can live freely each day. It seems that most of us take for granted our daily lives of freedom, our ability to come and go so easily, to go from state to state without passports or official identification, something many countries require nowadays.
In honor of all those, I want to include some of the favorite verses of Taps. My dad loved Taps.
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake,
From the sky,
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
Go to sleep, peaceful sleep,
May the soldier or sailor,
God keep.
On the land or the deep,
Safe in sleep.
Love, good night, Must thou go,
When the day, And the night
Need thee so?
All is well. Speedeth all
To their rest.
Fades the light; And afar
Goeth day, And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well: Day has gone,
Night is on.
Thanks and praise, For our days,
'Neath the sun, Neath the stars,
'Neath the sky,
As we go, This we know,
God is nigh.
Nighty, night, Daddy Boyd, I'll see you in the morning!
a repost from past pages
