My grandfather's hard work, heroism and unwavering dedication to our country, military and helping others has no doubt been an inspiration to everyone who came into his life. His endless list of accomplishments and achievements continued to make our family so proud to call him our own. However, behind that decorated uniform was our beloved PopPop. A man who loved harder than anyone I know. Whether you knew him for 5 minutes or 50 years you were part of our family. And when it came to our family, he was our biggest cheerleader. He celebrated all of our successes, big or small, but also felt every struggle, pain, and heartache that we felt. And no matter the magnitude of those hardships or what he had going on in his own life, he would not rest until he could help in some way. With a heartfelt phone call, a warm smile, a comforting hug, a quiet prayer, opening his home and wallet to you, presenting you with his signature coin or sending you an elegant note, he made sure you knew that you were special to him and that he was on your side. While his love and generosity were sometimes unappreciated, he made it his goal each and every day to make the world a better place in any way he could, and he truly succeeded in that.
I will always cherish sitting by the fire with my cousins listening to his stories, watching in awe his ability not spill his drink when he fell asleep on his chair, playing with the dog bank in his living room, laughing at him balancing random items on his head in pictures, family beach trips, Christmas's at the lodge, giggling as he shuffled around the house in his whitey-tighties, matching Christmas stockings hanging from the staircase, piling on the hammock in his backyard, catching him sneaking sweets from the pantry, reluctantly watching him eat tomatoes and mayonnaise, hearing the vacuum at 6am, his 3 star shirt, hats and notepads, his George Washington room, buttered bread before dinner, getting him "just a splash" more of his drink, his handkerchiefs, family fun runs, his endearing nicknames, wondering how every cup I put on the counter somehow got put in the dishwasher the second I would turn around, when he would tap my leg and give me a wink before he was going to try to instigate a laugh out of someone, looking for his "ears", his speeches, listening to Christmas music with him even if it was July, constantly changing the names of my dogs, his pride for his white teeth and blonde hair, seeing him holding grandmas hand, snuggling with him under a blanket in 100 degree weather, sharing the salt shaker (and so on and so forth).
But most importantly I will always cherish the family he gave me. My continuously growing cousin crew, who while we don't see each other often, always seem to pick up where we left off with our fun and laughter; my aunts and uncles, continue to show me unconditional love and support; and most of all my amazing father who undoubtedly inherited his father's love, humor, perseverance, generosity (and baldness). The greatest gift we can give him to honor his legacy is to strive each day to love each other, appreciate each other, forgive and respect each other.
Love you PopPop!