At 4 am Thursday morning my Grandfather Robert Sommer went on his final mission. The world lost a wonderful person and the United States lost a great patriotic American. I am blessed to have had in in our lives for 96 years and also extremely grateful that my son was able to know him. There are people in our lives that are a constant, a role model, a hero, and a friend, He was all of these as well as Grandpa. We celebrated the fourth of July together for most of my childhood at his Canadian cottage on Lake Erie. My Grandmother was from Canada and became an American after they were married but I have always considered Canada as a second home. That cottage is my favorite place in the world. We take the memories with us. He taught us right from wrong, to love our siblings because family is all that we have, and most importantly how to love. His wife of 63 years was his example. Somehow he survived flying 32 missions over occupied Europe in 1943-1944, That alone is a miracle. He along with so many that did not come back helped secure freedom for the rest of the world. He did not talk about the war at all until 1986 or so when the Movie Memphis Belle came out. It seemed at that time it became ok to talk about it. He never bragged, but was very matter of fact about what happened. I heard him speak at a veterans day service at a senior center many years ago. He told every one that Freedom was not free, That war was hell. Many things back then did not make the papers like today. I am sure he lived with ghosts and I cannot begin to imagine the things he saw but I know that he dealt with them the best he could and came back home to make a life, family and legacy. A humble Patriarch would be a fitting title but I will always remember him as Grandpa. Forever am I grateful for you.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 23:17:22 +0000
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