It's Monday, June 6th, 2011 On D Day & My Father Spoke In Normandy, France Back In The 1970's This Day As A Guest Speaker That Had Served In The War @

This Time For The American Army ... the headline should finish.

My mother and my father went up to Normandy, France on this day back in the mid 1970's I believe when my father that worked as a career officer for the American Embassy ( either at the time the Consul for Visas or the Consul for Passports - he did both while serving there in Paris, France off the Place De La Concorde ) was asked to say a few words. He was not the only speaker on this solemn event. He was in the war in France at this time of D Day and I have to find out whether he was already in France at the time or whether he was actually a part of the D Day invasion? Anyway, he had experience in World War II and my mother says that she remembers him giving a great speech and that it was an amazingly beautiful day for the rememberance on June 6th and that the grave yards there were beautifully maintained and breath-taking. She remembers it like it was today. She said that they got a great tour of the various cemetaries and that it really did leave a lasting impression on her.

I guess I was still in school here in the States when this happened but my two brothers were there in Paris, France living with them. I guess that they stayed in Paris? I am sorry that I was unnable to have been a part of this but I am thrilled for both my mother and for my father as they honored both the survivors as well as the memories of all those that have passed away since or died during the invasion itself.

I am glad that my mother called to tell me about this tonight. I had just arrived back home from my visit to see her and I had used my flip camera to record her talking about our early days in Brazil just after spending two years in the Azores Islands. That's how my father started his diplomatic career as a career officer with the Sate Department/ American Embassy.

My father died back in 1997 one night, He went to sleep and never woke up. No suffering and we all hope a painless passing. I miss you Dad.

I am proud of you and happy to share this with those that might be willing to read this when I post this to my Facebook account. It's now 9:23PM here at home in northern Virginia on D Day and we are worried about our dog that seems sick as of tonight. I hope she will get better really soon. It weighs on us tonight.

Cheers, TONY

My Father's 1997 Stuart Hill Executive Legal Pad Wireless : To Do Lists : Monday & More ...

It's now Sunday, February 27th, 2011 here at home in northern Virginia at 4:05PM on a sunny, beautiful afternoon and I am really tired but pressing on anyway as my son is downstairs now with his friend Matt and I think my wife might be taking a well-deserved nap after working all day on school work and on our guest bedroom.

Here is what my father wrote on the inside cover of the sleeve of this Stuart Hill Legal Pad :

" Mags 31 Oct @ John Sakimoto from / City Express called / C 785-2440 / Must Call Him Tomorrow! / Mag - Fr Nancy : /

United Mileage Plus 505-399-2400 Must Call Give A Em C Card # get 40.00 Change !

He's added 20+19+23+24+21+ and gets 107, crosses out 460 and many more numbers and cross-outs - and what's it all mean?!? Your guess is as good as mine.

Then he starts on one of the yellow legal sheets of paper and writes : To Do : Monday and writes : ( Swim ) In Afternoon ?? No Tuesday, first thing ( Bills - Tuesday! ) and he has crossed off the words Swim - In Afternoon and also Bills-Tuesday! I guess this means he accomplished all these things. Great Dad. It's good to have lists like this.

I remember how you would always call me at home on Ellen Avenue and how we would talk. I miss that most of all. We used to have really nice and friendly chats and they added to me and to the quality of my day and to the bond between the two of us. Thanks for that. Thanks for loving and caring about me for who I was and still am and not asking me to defend any of it. I appreciated and still appreciate that. Cheers et a plus tard mon pere et mon ami, Tony , your son - ton fils ...