Memories
So he was stationed in WhyNot (that’s what my grandpa and his Air Force buddies called it)? I bet that wasn’t a very pleasant experience. But it could have been worse. Chemia AFB (I think that’s how it’s spelled) was on the last of the Alaska side of the Aleutian Islands, and from I could gather, it was the pits (there was nothing to do there either). It has long been shut down, as it served no purpose after the Cold War ended.
Nice photos. I will be in the local ballpark watching the Texas Rangers and Detroit play at 8PM. I shall raise a beer to Allan’s memory.
Condolences to the family. Will really miss him. He was unique!
For the record, more blogs in his memory: http://millennium-notes.blogspot.com/2007/06/memorial-to-monumental-blogger.html8 pm, in north Seattle, anyone around come join in a glass for the Skip. Write and I’ll clue you in as to where.
Sara, you absolutely rock!
Sara - you did good.
And I will raise a second glass to Mr. Christian who helped us walk this path together.
2000 hours in Cincinnati, OH - Here’s to you Allan, you will always be The Skipper to me. I should be use to this, as my family is short lived men - so I have lost many (most without even knowing them at all). But for some reason, this was a real shock - even with the warning that all was not going well for The Skipper. I found two quotes - the first is how I envision The Skipper -
If my doctor told me I only had six minutes to live, I would not brood. I’d type faster.
-Isaac Asimovand this because like me - she lost her father as a young girl. She said how I always felt so well -
I didn’t know his leaving would hurt so much. I still don’t know why.
- Erma BombeckStaring at an email the Skipper sent to me on May 18th welcoming me as a poster to the Recon Group, it still doesn’t seem real to me that he’s gone. Tonight I raise a Bud in toast to his memory as he stands Eternal Patrol over all of us.
I would like to echo those thanking Mr. Christian for all of his efforts. You sir, are a cut above. My sincerest thanks for grabbing the helm and guiding us all through this together.
I want to second what wardmama said, I will raise my glass for the Skipper at 8pm sharp, and the second glass will be raised in your honor, Mr. Christian.
Dittos for Sara… beautiful tribute.
At 2000 SC time, I decided that it was appropriate to raise a glass of Captain Morgan in the Skipper’s memory.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;
Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
~Walt Whitman~After lurking around here for the last couple of years, I think I can honestly say that we’ve all got a little Captain in us. We’re going to miss you, Skipper Kelly!
Derek,
Columbia, SC
Posted by DaGeneral
06/06/2007 at 07:37 PM
All of us here would like to express our heartfelt thanks for all of your comments and help during this tragic time in our family. Myself, my brother, my uncle, my aunts, my little cousin and my mother have all been reading the comments. We didn’t realize how many people dad had touched over the years.
He was truly a unique person. Which in hindsight was a good thing. Too many Allan C. Kelly’s would have either caused a rip in the space-time continuum or sent the earth out of it’s orbit.
Dad had much to teach us from the experiences in his life. He had many successes and mistakes to help guide him. He lived a very eventful life. From a little boy growing up at various bases around the world, to a young father running drive in theatres in the south, to a successful database administrator who in his spare time helped guide others through the vast maelstrom that makes up the political landscape of the United States and the World.
We will join you all in toasting him tonight at eight. Whether you loved him or hated him, raise your glass to him and do honor to his legacy tonight.
And to those of you who have contributed to the memorial fund, me and my brother would very much like to say thank you. Dad was between jobs at the time and unfortunately had no life insurance. So every little bit has been a great boon to us.
And if when you toast tonight, I would like to recommend a song to play if you have it. Hell the whole album is very good and appropriate tonight. They were also a favorite of my fathers.
So if you have it, at eight tonight, put in Pink Floyd’s Wish you were Here. Maybe dad will hear it. Shine on you Crazy Diamond…
Sean Kelly
Posted by Sean Kelly
06/06/2007 at 07:40 PM
Allan, Skipper, to you I raise my glass.
I remember trading emails with the Skipper late one night this past Christmas.
It seemed we were the only two awake in the world. It truly was a Silent Night.To you Skipper. Rest well. By your faith, you are whole again.
Sean, David and Brian, God Bless you.
Mr. Christian, thank you for pulling us together.
Oh shoot, it’s 2035 in Chicago. Here’s a (late) toast of Rolling Rock to Allan. The blogosphere just won’t be the same without you.
A glass is raised
And then another.
Too many memories, not enough time.
Again, for serving your country in uniform. As a payroll clerk it turns out? Each of us to our duty but you had me fooled there flyboy. Ah, the last laugh is yours.
A smaller one, remembering your joy in putting down the shotguns and finally joining the Nation of Riflemen, even if you did buy a poodleshooter. But a nice one! Another swallow for my small regret that I could never talk you into reloading.
A refill and an ice cube, recalling the laughs and the anger as you pointed out the absurdity of life and the idiots who make it that way.
For old times sake ... where is Bulldog dammit ... a toast: “Sod the French!”
And one for Mr. Christian; our thanks in this sorry time.
Sadness at your passing and shock how fast the years rush by.
well worn vinyl discs long gone but the music still lives in my head:
“And we’ll bask in the shadow of yesterday’s triumph,
sail on the steel breeze.
Come on you boy child, you winner and loser,
come on you miner for truth and delusion,
and shine!”At 2000hrs PDT, with ‘Wish You Were Here’ playing in my stereo, I raise my pint of Widmer hefeweizen to you Skipper.
When a great man dies, for years the light he leaves behind him, lies on the paths of men. - Longfellow
I look forward to meeting you face to face on the other side, Skipper.
Sleep now, in the light,
- Agamemnon
I’ll ditto those thanking you Mr. Christian. It is a hard thing to put in a good days work and then take your free time and step up to the plate and operate this blog. Ten Thousand ATTA_BOYs to you and my thanks.
I toasted Mr Allan - Two Coronas with lime and salt, spaced with a vodka shooter in between. I think he’d like that.
Damn, Damn, Dammit, Damn, It is just damn plain crap that you get a bad back and it leads to this. An old construction superintendent that I worked under died under the same circumstances. Spinal column went to shit, he got scheduled for an operation and the doc’s sent him home with some heavy duty pain killers to keep him while he waited a couple of weeks to get the surgery done. The short story is that the pain killers affected his breathing, that led to oxygen deficient blood going back to the lungs, which slowed the lungs down more, which snow balled into the lungs shutting down in his sleep and he passed away.
Just Damn. Not at 58. When your in your eighties or nineties, yeah your time is coming. But 58? Just damn, dammit, damn.
Sure am going to miss Allan.
For the Skipper.... Sir, I will miss you, and your country will miss you. Cheers, It’s MIller time.
Posted by Countrygirl
06/07/2007 at 12:11 AM
*snif*
Here’s another thanks to MR.Christian for his efforts over the last week.
I had to work last night so I am making a 6:40 am Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel toast to the Skipper this morning.I feel badly, but due to a previously planned dinner with my folks, the best I could do at 8:00pm last night was a Mai Tai with an umbrella in it. Hardly a fitting tribute for a man’s man like the Skipper, but I’ll remedy that tonight.
My thanks also to Mr. Christian, and to Sara for the tribute.Thanks for the great memorial, Mr. Christian and Brian.
I wa away. I can’t believe it ! My Deepest condolences and thanks for carrying on what the skipper started !
Posted by earth56
06/09/2007 at 01:21 AM
06/06/2007 at 04:53 PM
