Ah. I found this precious memory some time ago and have wanted to preserve and share it. Finally figured it out (I think! We'll find how when I hit "post"!

15 years ago - October 12 - 2000 - terrorists bombed the USS Cole in the Port of Yemen, killing 17 sailors. As most of you know, one of those sailors was one of my cousins. Kevin Shawn Rux. We traveled not long after that to Norfolk, Virginia to a massive Memorial service. I'll never forget it. A military memorial is truly breathtaking. Thousands of sailors, family, government officials, it was truly an awesome moment. After the Memorial, a local radio station played this tribute, clips from the Memorial along with this song. It was very touching then and it still is today. I'm not sure how we accomplished getting it on cassette tape, but I've had it all these years and I'm thankful it isn't warped or damaged from the years - and that I still have a boombox that plays cassette tapes! :)

The USS Cole family is soon having a 15 year reunion - a bittersweet time for all, no doubt. Please keep them in your prayers. Their healing is a life-long process, but I know their bond and love for one another is healing in itself.

RIP Kevin Shawn Rux. We love you, miss you and you are never far from our thoughts.

Monica Flanagan Palmer