I texted my son yesterday."Love You, Bud." There it sits, suspended, hovering, steeped in memories, emotions, and even a touch of anticipation. I Continue Reading
They Stand on the Wall of Freedom: Training Casualties
I recently attended another memorial last week in Liberty Chapel, 7th SFG, Eglin AFB, Florida. This time, I was not sitting in the first row with my Continue Reading
For Those Mourning Loss This Holiday Season
“It is not our job to remain whole. We came to lose our leaves like the trees, and be born again, drawing up from the great roots.” -- Continue Reading
Waiting for Dawn’s Dappled Light
Trust, they say yet my tears betray my moans remain or do they water the seeds of hope tiny specks mustard Continue Reading
In the Silence of Our Home
Cars departing with frenzied goodbye waves Last airport run complete Leftovers stacked in neat rows in refrigerator Ashes piled up in wood Continue Reading
The FNG
During Ranger School, a young Lieutenant who aspired to be a Green Beret asked Quint how someone short in stature like himself made it through SF Continue Reading
Burdens and Blessings
I had a phone conversation with Matt recently. He was in my son’s squad in the Mountain Phase of Ranger school. He shared with me his story about that Continue Reading
One Year
Author's note: This reflection was written at the one-year mark of our Son’s death. It seems impossible that it has now been two years, but the Continue Reading
A Climb of Remembrance
We lean into our trekking poles with pounding hearts and labored breaths, slowly grinding our way up the 30-degree unimproved mountain trail that will Continue Reading
MAYDAY
It’s the ninth again. The months pass quickly—if you're counting, and for some reason, I am. It's been 33 months since the passing of our son, Quint. Continue Reading
A Run of Remembrance
It’s 7:00 AM on a Sunday. We wait on a barren stretch of US-90, just east of Macclenny, Florida. A cold, drizzly rain numbs our fingers as we shiver Continue Reading
There Were Signs… My Son’s First Deer
by Tab Continue Reading