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Category: General / Topics: Family Memories

Time to Remember

by Dan Seagren

Posted: August 17, 2014

August may be one of those months with few memorable events to celebrate…

August is one of those months when there may not be many memorable events to celebrate.

I do have one, however. In August 1946 I walked out of Fort Snelling with my Discharge Papers from the US Navy. When I was drafted, after I had passed the physical exam for the Army, I was given the opportunity to join the Navy. Then I was asked if I wanted to link up with the regulars or reserves.

I took the reserves and was discharged one day before the declared exit date. That was an incredible time of my life. Ironically, I was almost drafted again for the “Korean War.” Of course many have similar experiences which should never, ever be forgotten.

The other day I was rummaging through a desk drawer and discovered a folded piece of paper. Curious, I opened it and discovered it was a letter written by our first child's “adopted” grandparents since our parents lived a long distance away. Talk about memories.  

A few days ago, the mail-carrier brought me a letter containing a ten-page Memorial Bulletin of the celebration of the death of a long time friend. Reading the tributes was another day to remember as my thoughts meandered back several decades to additional tributes I might have added.

As I write this, we are planning our journey to witness the graduation of our granddaughter.  We zoomed to the Los Angeles airport where her proud parents introduced my wife and I to our first grandchild. Eleven months old, her bright eyes took in everything as she was presented to us. Adopted from China, she was on the way to her new home. Soon she snuggled in her grandmother's arms but when transferred to me, her tears began to flow.

Quickly I handed her over to her mother. After a night's rest in the hotel, we returned to the airport. Because there was a mix up on their reservation, she was handed over to me where she melted into my arms and fell asleep. Now Cici is graduating from High School and will be adding to her memory bank.

Will I ever forget that day? I sure hope not. Yet it is advantageous to have her graduation remind her Papa that these kinds of moments should never be forgotten. Or overlooked.



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Dan Seagren is an active retiree whose writings reflect his life as a Pastor, author of several books, and service as a Chaplain in a Covenant Retirement Community.

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Posted: August 17, 2014   Accessed 144 times

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