Posted by Deborah Orton on October 2, 2010:

I was born in Feb 1951 while my Dad was in Korea. My Mom and Grandmother must have told me many stories about my handsome, brave and kind Father because when he came home six months after I was born, I felt completely at home with him. My Dad was always a West Pointer and raised me and my two brothers with the West Point values that were so important to him. Honesty and fairness were everyday lessons. When we were children and he said prayers with us at night, he would always end them with "God bless everyone, make everyone well, make everyone free, thank you for making me an American." There was another side to my Father that I saw as his only daughter. He was my "Daddy." He was very patient, gentle, giving and very sweet to me. I always felt so loved and so safe when he was there. He listened to me sing songs and tell endless stories and always acted so interested. He helped me with my homework at night and he would spend hours calmly going through my textbooks with me, never rushing. He taught me to drive and never lost his cool. He always whistled around the house and had me try to name that tune. I was in a swim meet once and I was the last one in the pool and still had two laps to go. I wanted to climb out of the pool right then and slink away but Daddy was there on the side of the pool cheering me on like I was winning. Because of him I finished the race and I have always been so proud of him for that. He always taught us kids to love and take care of each other and almost 60 years later we still do. We traveled around the world and he taught us the magic of other countries. We were on a train once in Europe and went past fields of poppies and he recited the poem Flanders Fields to me - a moment I will always treasure. When I was a teenager he took me out in a canoe on the lake very early one morning. It was just me and Daddy. We floated silently through hundreds of butterflies and listened to ducks flapping their wings to get off of the water. I felt so special that day to have shared that private time with just me and him. When I started working I would call him frequently with problems at work and he always listened very carefully and gave me sound advice. He never always agreed with choices I made in my life, but he would always be there to help me pick up the pieces when things fell apart. His passing has left an empty spot in our lives that will never be entirely filled. Family was so important to my Father and I know my Brothers and my Mom and I will help each other and we will find a way to carry on, but we will always carry his love with us. My Mom is having a very difficult time and the bond between classmates has proved itself once again in the calls she has received from you all. She was only 19 when they married and after being his wife for 61 years, she is still trying to find her way without him. I know his loss is difficult for you all too. I would especially like to thank Dave Bolte, my Godfather, for helping me and my family through these last two months and all the other classmates who have helped in countless ways.

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