In loving memory of Robert D. Davis

As a young boy,

My sister and I would visit the birdbath in front of Bob’s house

That was filled with glimmering marbles of all different sizes.

As we chatted with Bob

We would always try to slip some marbles into our pockets,

Glancing around to ensure no one saw our mischief.

Bob always saw.

But he just smiled his thin, knowing, warm smile,

And let us continue our shenanigans.

As an older child,

I visited Bob

To listen to his war stories.

He showed me the Japanese sword he took

From a fallen enemy soldier,

And he gave me a copy of the extraordinary book he wrote

Chronicling his survival in German prison camps.

Bob was a war hero, but more importantly

He was an inspiration.

Someone who never let life get him down.

Even when old pains flared up and he used his wheelchair,

A smile was always visible

As he spread cheerfulness and laughter wherever he went.

Bob Davis always supported me as he watched me grow

From the first few months of my life

Through adolescence and my teenage years

Even coming to my Bar Mitzvah to celebrate with me.

Bob was that indescribable type of friend who bought the chocolates I needed to sell

For my school fundraisers,

Even though he still had the chocolates he bought from me last year.

I loved spending time with Bob,

Even as he grew older,

He kept the same optimistic attitude,

An attitude that I will never forget.

Bob passed away shortly before July 4th,

And our whole street felt his loss

As if a single piece had been removed from a puzzle,

We had a hole in our hearts.

On July 4th, our whole neighborhood came together

To put up posters and flags and pictures and drawings

To remember Bob by

And to honor him for his contributions to our country.

But to me,

Bob did more than contribute to our country -

He contributed to our community.

Bob was a hero.

A friend.

A veteran.

A mentor.

And although I still miss him,

And although it is hard to walk past his house because it seems so empty now,

I will always remember all the life lessons Bob taught me

And I will always remember Bob.