What memories do you have with your father and your own children on Fathers Day?

2015-06-17T11:46:28-04:00

Fathers Day will be this Sunday. My father died just under 20 years ago. 20 years ago I had just been diagnosed with heart disease. I took my young sons to his house near Philadelphia and talked with my dad about heart disease - he had a heart transplant in 1992. We shared some symptoms and I took note of those for myself and my own sons. Later I took the boys to Naylor's Run a small park in Upper Darby near Delaware County Memorial Hospital. The boys were 4 and 7 and enjoyed playing in the cement creek and on the swings. In those days we played Billy Goats Gruff at a bridge over the cement creek. I played the role of the Troll and the boys were the Billy Goats. They really enjoyed those times which did not cost much and were generally unstructured which allowed them to play to their heart's content.
Here is a picture of me in 1996 with three of my sons. The two orange-haired sons were the ones that took the trip to Upper Darby to see my dad on Father's Day 1995.

Response by SSG Donald Mceuen made Jun 17 at 2015 12:46 PM

2015-06-17T12:46:36-04:00

My father passed when i was young so i do not remember things like that. But my kids take me fishing and that i love.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2015 1:59 PM

2015-06-17T13:59:48-04:00

Of more recent memory, 3 generations of Hayes men went on a Father’s Day fishing trip in Virginia. My father, uncle, my younger brother, my son and I all embarked on fishing adventure that was full laughter, serious and lighthearted discussion and of course a little beer for all Hayes men minus my son. Luckily we were really successful that day with catching many fish but even if we didn’t catch anything, the fact that we were all together and sharing that moment meant a lot to all of us.

As for my own fathers days memories with my kids, I’m just humbled and blessed to have 3 awesome kids and just being home to see them every day is enough to me. I cherish every time I help them with their homework, go to see one of their sporting events, volunteer at their school and just watch them grow and learn and become unique individuals.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 17 at 2015 4:38 PM

2015-06-17T16:38:10-04:00

My memories were giving my dad typical Father's Day presents of socks and underwear, LOL.

My daughter is only 3, so we haven't really established Father's Day traditions yet.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2015 4:10 PM

2015-06-19T16:10:27-04:00

LTC Stephen F., My dad and I weren't close. He verbally abused me ever since I was a kid. He died in 1992. I do miss him. The night before he died, he told me he loved me. That was the only time he had said that. Believe it or not, I don't care, the night of the funeral, I had a visit from my dad. I was almost asleep, and a bright light appeared on the ceiling. It scared the crapola out of me. It was a visit from my dad and he told me he was ok and he loved me. He died of Melanoma. His face and hands didn't have anymore ugly black spots on them. As quick as he appeared, he was gone. I lay there wondering to myself, did that really just happen! Like I said, I had just gotten in bed. I looked over at my wife , but she was sound asleep. He was buried in the Houston National Veterans cemetery. Another weird thing happened about a week after he was buried. I went to the cemetery to visit my dad . I was standing there wondering about the visit. I looked down at the headstone and my name was on it. He's a senior, I'm a junior. It was a very awkward feeling seeing my name on it.

Response by SFC William Farrell made Apr 2 at 2016 3:54 PM

2016-04-02T15:54:03-04:00

An old one i just found LTC Stephen F.. You are blessed; i only have one child, my son. And you look a lot different! :-) You have a ponytail?

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Apr 3 at 2016 10:17 AM

2016-04-03T10:17:46-04:00

LTC Stephen F. I have some great memories with my own Dad, but very few with my Daughters (been separated by a lot of miles with them since 2004, divorce, deployment, college, and thousand of miles in distance between us). Here is one with my daughters last year at my youngest college graduatlion on my left (Madalyn) and (Kattie) on my right facing the camera. Here is one of my Dad during the return Brigade Ball after my deployment that we held prior to deactivating the Brigade! Colonel Burroughs and Private First Class Burroughs (Purple Heart Recipient, Korean War)