hyper/logos

Dear dad,

I’m sorry that I haven’t spoken to you in so long, even sorrier that I haven’t come to visit. I’ve even been in El Paso more than a few times, and didn’t come to visit. I know, it’ll be 12 years, come the end of August, but the pain is still fresh and it’s been hard to work through.

Even so, I need to thank you for raising me to be the man I am today.

You taught me what a man is.

It’s not the physical traits, it’s who one is on the inside that makes the man. There were times when duty called you away, but even then you were providing for us, protecting us. Your time in Korea was tough on everyone, and on Mom most of all. We all sat on the bed and cried for missing you, James and me comforting Mom.

What you taught me was not to speak unless I had something to say and then to not shy away from saying it.

You taught me discipline. And duty. And responsibility. Those were lessons I took with me when my path followed yours into the military.

You taught me that family comes first, no matter what.

You taught me to stand up for myself, and for others who could not stand up for themselves.

You taught me to laugh; you taught me how to make puns to make grown men groan, even as they smiled.

You taught me to persevere through adversity: they said you’d never use your hand again. You proved them wrong.

You taught me to take pride in myself.

You taught me to think of others in things that I do: too bad the Medal of Honor is only awarded in wartime, not in peace.

I am the man that I am today because of the foundation you helped build when I was young and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I will visit you next time I’m in El Paso to thank you in person. I promise.

I miss you, Dad.

Love,

Mike

June 14, 2009

Written to my father John Edward Luevane, CW4, US Army Jan. 10, 1929 - Aug. 27, 1997