1997 Easter Time My Father's Funeral - Arlington National Cemetery

Easter Time 1997 Dad's Funeral

My father was a career Air force Sergeant. I loved him and  he loved me but he also could often be violent and mean toward my mother mostly but also toward me. His death left me conflicted in so many ways and that confliction has remained with me even today. Much of my violence, anger and struggle can be directly attributed to our relationship. There were things I will never put down in writing or reflect publicly about. I later learned I was not the only person to grow up with this situation.

His funeral was at Arlington national Cemetery - a place reserved for heroes and maybe he was. I don't know. He had an overpowering outgoing personality which I inherited and still have. It embarrassed my children just as it did me. Still this was my father  and I was at his funeral.