Frank was one of the very first people I taught karate to. I remember him trying so very hard in class, wanting to get every move perfect. His grin when he would nail a technique would light up the dojo. When I close my eyes and think of Frank, I chose to remember this and not the handfuls of Middle Tennessee dirt thudding against the top of a casket and certainly not the protesters that felt his funeral a place to make their opinions on politics known. You see, Frank Walkup was a person who had hopes, dreams, goals, and a life to live. If we, the living, do not honor his sacrifice then he is wasted – and all human life is too precious to be wasted.
In the 1970's, we wore Prisoner of War (P.O.W.) bracelets. Today, we also keep others in our memories; Victims of Terrorism and Military Casualties. To keep the memory alive of those who have died at the hands of terrorists or fighting terrorism, we now also wear Memorial Bracelets. People from all over the country are wearing bracelets from Memorial Bracelets located at www.memorialbracelets.com for their own very personal reasons. Below are some of the stories that we have received.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
A Good Friend and Member of my Congregation
I remember clearly sitting in a pew Sunday morning and hearing the preacher announce the horrifying news… Frank Walkup IV was killed in Iraq. This was Father’s Day 2007. My mind reeled as I tried to process the news. My friend - No, that’s not right - my good friend would not be coming home. A small child would forever know her father as a photograph, and a young bride would only have the memories of her husband’s strong arms around her.
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