In Rememberance of Bill

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Marie

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Today is the anniversary of my brothers death in the jungles of Vietnam. He was and is my Hero and I placed this poem which I wrote for him below his name on the WALL many years ago.

I offer prayers for all those lost in wars gone by and the War’s of today.

The Empty Tomb

As I approach the wall, in the early morning light, the sky is gently showering everything with dew. Here at the break of day’s new dawning, I come much like Mary to visit the empty tomb. I come not with spices but with my heart wanting to speak to you once again. Today I come to meet with my brother, my friend.

I know deep within me that we are still kindred in spirit, together and yet apart. We have shared the days of our childhood and we have felt the sting of death. Yet, for all of this, nothing can really ever separate us.not even a broken heart.

William.my sweet William.how I long to see you once again. Can you hear me? Do you see me as I search for your beloved name? Many years have passed since I last spoke with you and beheld your dear sweet face. Yet it seems like only yesterday that I stood beside your open grave.

Brother, teacher, companion and friend,how the memories do ebb and flow. Can you see me? Do you hear me as I search for your beloved name? Suddenly, as though from a lighthouse.a tiny ray of sun seems to point out your beloved name.Billy.dearest brother, I know that you still watch over me.

Can you feel the mist that is falling? Do you see how the dew drops look just like teardrops as I caress your beloved name? I counted 16 teardrops falling.one for each letter and character in your name.

Do you remember bat-light, butterflies and fishing in the rain? Do you remember how you taught me to fish and then threw them all back into the lake again? You said: “We should never waste God’s beauty or abuse the bounty of his land.”

Do you fish the lakes of heaven, still teaching the little ones? Do you walk the fields with Jesus and. OH! Do you still sing slightly out of tune?

Here in the misty morning sunrise.I feel close to you once again. I can almost hear you singing.“Halleluiah! To Christ our King!” Best of all, sweet William.it sounds perfectly in tune.

William, my sweet William.I shall always love you so. Billy, dearest brother.it is time for me to go. I know now, deep in my heart, that you are well and happy. Now not even 16 teardrops falling can take away my joy for you. “Vaya Con Dios,” until we meet again
 
What a beautiful poem!! This should also be a reminder that we all pray for our troops!! My prayers are with you!!
 
Marie,

Your remembrance, so very beautiful, touches me deeply. With tears for your sweet William and so very many others, I continue to weep though silently. I realize how close to the surface of our daily lives is a deep well of collected sorrow; that on any day, a picture, a thought, a word can cause joy to step aside and allow us to caress the memory of a lost loved one. When that, too passes, there remains gratitude.

Today I visited the Cathedral of St. Frances of Assisi in Santa Fe. There was a side chapel that honored Our Lady, La Conquisadora with a statue brought to this country from Spain in 1625. Before that altar was a prayer for our troops. Your remembrance of Bill reminded me all the more how each of their lives touches so many others. May God hold them close as we keep them close.
 
Marie,

Your poem is a beautiful expression of your love for and remembrance of your brother, Bill.

Whenever I have the opportunity to visit DC, I always pause at The Wall to read again the name of my friend and classmate, 1LT Louie Favuzza, who so wanted to teach history, but instead is part of it. Each time, I am again humbled by the sheer number of youth whose names are recorded there. I am also chastened that I am only able to remember, by name, a single one of the many soldiers whose mortal remains passed through my medical units on their final trip home to moms, dads, wives, husbands, children, brothers, sisters, and friends who didn’t yet know the awful truth.

May the memory of your brother, Bill, and the memory of all my brothers and sisters who died in VietNam, be eternal and thrice-blessed.

Neil

Medical Service Corps, US Army, RVN July 1969 - August 1970
 
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Joanna:
Marie,

Your remembrance, so very beautiful, touches me deeply. With tears for your sweet William and so very many others, I continue to weep though silently. I realize how close to the surface of our daily lives is a deep well of collected sorrow; that on any day, a picture, a thought, a word can cause joy to step aside and allow us to caress the memory of a lost loved one. When that, too passes, there remains gratitude.

Today I visited the Cathedral of St. Frances of Assisi in Santa Fe. There was a side chapel that honored Our Lady, La Conquisadora with a statue brought to this country from Spain in 1625. Before that altar was a prayer for our troops. Your remembrance of Bill reminded me all the more how each of their lives touches so many others. May God hold them close as we keep them close.
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Thank you Joanna,Hesychios and Sarah,
It is so true that a particular memory can suddenly sweep through us and bring back thoughts of loved ones. August and September days always do that to me. My Bill’s death seems as though it happened yesterday. He volunteered to return to Nam so he could be with my little brother. My Mike was seriously wounded the day Bill landed, so August is also a deep month for remembrances for our family. Mikes wounds are healed yet the pain of the wounds of losing his big brother have never healed.

It was such a sorrowful time in all our lives. It is good to look back and shed a few tears but it also is a sort of healing in the hope we gain through remembering all of our loved ones. The hope and faith that we shall see them again.

I lost two other dear friends in Nam also, and I recall the memories of them all. The laughter and the tears mingle but more importantly I reflect with prayers of gratitude for having had all of them in my life…once long ago.

jmj,
Marie
 
Irish Melkite:
Marie,

Your poem is a beautiful expression of your love for and remembrance of your brother, Bill.

Whenever I have the opportunity to visit DC, I always pause at The Wall to read again the name of my friend and classmate, 1LT Louie Favuzza, who so wanted to teach history, but instead is part of it. Each time, I am again humbled by the sheer number of youth whose names are recorded there. I am also chastened that I am only able to remember, by name, a single one of the many soldiers whose mortal remains passed through my medical units on their final trip home to moms, dads, wives, husbands, children, brothers, sisters, and friends who didn’t yet know the awful truth.

May the memory of your brother, Bill, and the memory of all my brothers and sisters who died in VietNam, be eternal and thrice-blessed.

Neil

Medical Service Corps, US Army, RVN July 1969 - August 1970
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Special thanks to you Neil,
For loving and caring for our loved ones when we could not. So many faces and so much suffering, but love triumphs in the end.
Your care for them blessed each and every one of them though you will only know how much, when time and history is completed in this world for our generation. I know your service was a great and difficult time in your life. But never doubt it…you made a difference and God is pleased to call you “My son.”

I stopped this morning to visit the internet wall and leave a note for your friend. If you have not visited it you can. Here is the Web addie. I have copied your freinds info here for you. His name has been visited by others.

The Wall

LOUIS ANTHONY FAVUZZA

1LT - O2 - Army - Reserve
1st Cav Division (AMBL)
23 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on May 24, 1946
From SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS
Length of service 1 year.
His tour of duty began on Aug 20, 1969
Casualty was on Apr 29, 1970
in BINH LONG, SOUTH VIETNAM
HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY
MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS
Body was recovered
Religion
ROMAN CATHOLIC

Panel 11W - - Line 67

Tributes Left:

Pleasure to have served under you while with the Black Lions.
Friday, February 13, 2004

rest well my cav brother
Saturday, May 24, 2003

May perpetual light shine upon you and may God hold you in His loving arms. You are not forgotten.
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
 
Marie,
You have such a tender heart…what a beautiful tribute to your brother and how kind of you to visit the internet WALL for Neil’s friend and classmate, 1LT Louie Favuzza. god Bless You, Annunciata:)
 
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