Posted by Mark Bangsboll on February 29, 2012:

Anne's passing came as a shock to me because my memory of her is a picture of a vibrant, humorous woman who enjoyed life fully, always had a positive attitude and maintained her professionalism.... I first meet Anne when I was assigned as the HQ Commandant of the 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord in 1990. She worked for me as my senior protocol officer handling missions from the CG. Everyday was a new experience dealing with vistors like SecDef Cheney, numerous four stars and the CG's wife. Anne always took things in stride and found the humour in every "crisis" we encountered...I will never forget the 4th of July celebration with the 7th ID band and thousands of visitors. Everthing was worked out to perfection and 10 minutes before the start of the ceremony I got the team of protocol officers together for a last minute check....At that time it came to mind about the sprinkler system that automatically turns on at 1800 hrs and it was now 1750hrs. The look of disbelief in Anne and everyone else's face was priceless...Anne took charge and started giving orders to all the protocol lieutenants ...The next thing I saw was all these young lieutenants standing next to the springlers heads and stomping on them as they started to rise...As in a movie, at the very last second Anne was able to have the springlers turned off just as they were rising with water coming out...We could have had "Thousands" of spectors to include Senator Panetta drenched if it were not for her quick reaction....Though it was not funny at the time Anne could not help but laugh during the whole event!!.... She was my right hand in solving many potential disasters like the Division Chorus when the CG inadvertantly stated "too many women"; or the refurbishment of DVQs by the CG's wife; or an unhappy GEN Thurman..etc, etc... Always with a great disposition and professional attitude, Anne made things happen...On the personal level it was a joy to be her friend and to get to know the family. Later when my family returned to the US we were so pleased to hear Anne and Rob had started a family and were living near us in Peachtree City. We knew Anne and Rob would be great parents and that Anne would always provide the lightside to parenthood. Off and on we saw Anne in the past years. The last time I saw her was in 2007 (just before I spent 4 years overseas...She was in the Fort McPherson gym and she had not changed. She was laughing and telling me stories about the job, but most important was how proud she was about her family... Anne did everything great with the best approach to life I have ever encountered. She was not an opportunist but a professional soldier, she stood out in a man's world but never lost sight of her womanhood, she found humor in everything because life is all about a glass being half full vs half empty...and most of all Anne was the mother and wife that most people envy.... Our hearts are so saddened by her passing but her legacy in her children, husband and with all her friends will remain. Anne's memory will always be an extremely postive influence...My final image of Anne is of her laughing with a smirk on her face and waving a hand and stating "Nooo Problem!!"....Anne we will miss you....

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