I went to visit with my father yesterday because it has been a very trying time lately and when I spend time with him everything seems OK for just a little while. I have a few people in my life who “Raise Me Up” but Dad has been doing it the longest. Even from the grave his spiritual presence is important to my everyday life.

Dad has always been there for me no matter what. One time when I was in my twenties, young and dumb, my father showed me how strong a fathers love is for his son when he decided to meet with me in secret to let me know the FBI was closing in and I was about to be arrested for a huge mistake I had made. He broke federal law to protect me, his son.

Dad and I shared many good times together due to the fact that he was also my Scout Master in Boy Scouts. The most memorable was the cross country trip we took together with another Boy Scout troop to a high adventure camp in New Mexico. We endured the hardest backpacking itinerary they had to offer which was a grueling 78 mile hike with full pack over a period of 14 days

There were many planned activities and things to do at every camp site including gold panning, burro packing, mountaineering, search and rescue training, and much more.

The entire trip and experience inspired my father to write a poem that explained everything about our time together and I read it occasionally just for a pick me up.

Dad was not only my father but he was my best friend and mentor too. He was strict but fair. He was a quiet man but he was known to “carry a big stick” when needed. Over and above everything else he was and still is my HERO.