Charles' Mythical Memorial

It DOES exist!  This is such a huge, emotional find for me that I'm all sniffly and I can barely see the computer screen because the tears just won't stop. 

Since the late 90's, when the organization who was trying to establish the memorial contacted G-Bob to notify her of their intent, this has been a big deal. Originally this memorial was to be placed sometime in 2000, but they lost funding.  Then the man who was organizing this and many other European memorials for US Service Men, died in 2003, and I just didn't think anything would come of it.  Last I heard, it was being left to the villages to raise the funding and to complete the memorial - but I never thought there was a chance in hell that even if it was placed, that I'd ever know about it.  And today, in the middle of procuring and requesting service records, accident reports and the like for both Granddaddy Bill and for Charles, I found this and it took my breath away. 

The fact that one of my favorite photos of him is engraved on a memorial that technically honors three fallen US Military men is pretty awesome.  The fact that the same photo is the only real photo on the blog frame (see left side bar), makes it even more spectacular, and unbelievable. 

I thought that all this time I was writing this story for me and that G-Bob, Tara, Pete, and Michelle were just going to be able to enjoy seeing it come to life.  Today, I can't help but feel like it's all for Charles.  I feel as if  he's taken me by the hand and is leading me along, making sure that I don't miss anything.  Like he's letting me know it doesn't matter how detailed my outline is, or how perfect the manuscript is - as long as I finish and his story gets told, no one will forget. 

Thank you, Charles.  I am overwhelmed and Barbara is going to be so proud.