Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/02/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Leica friends, I thought it might be appropriate to let you know how this windfall came to be. The man who brought these to my office was the father of a Marine killed in Iraq last year, one of my parishioners. For weeks following the son's death, in numerous painful meetings with Marine Corps representatives, his company commander who flew in from Iraq, having to review painful documents, signing insurance papers, etc. -- for all that time, and months after, I was with the family 5 or 6 days a week, sometimes for an hour, sometimes for half a day, trying to do my best to hold them together, helping them negotiate the red tape, keeping them from doing something stupid, reading reports they could not bear to read, taking their anger when they had no one else to vent on, and it continues to this day, the work I do with them and for them. I do not write this to make it sound as if I deserve anything. I suppose I write to let you all know how good it is to know that "you are there," and I can share in some way my good fortune with you. I also write this to make sure we all know the costs of a stupid and bloody and senseless war. The father's grateful gift to me was tinged with bitterness, as all true gifts are, in a way. So, yes, these cameras and lenses will be used, not put on a shelf. I will honor the gift. my peace to us all, Ken --------------------------------------- sent via .mac webmail from: Ken Frazier Senior Minister First Congregational Church Waterbury, Connecticut ---------------------------------------