Strengthening Constitutional Self-Government

No Left Turns

He was a man, my father

My father passed away on Christmas morning. Death came to him by inches, in his sleep. He had been suffering, from strokes, and from a lengthy bout with diabetes. He was less than two weeks away from his 83rd birthday. A few years ago--the last time he was in Ohio to visit--I wrote a short piece on him here.
This was a man born in the wrong place, struggling his whole life under circumstances entirely foreign to his grandchildren, finally getting the opportunity to be free in America. I have never met a man stronger, or kinder, or one more fully engaged in life. He understood the most important things, he fought evil men and forces in the center of a chaotic Europe. At great risk to himself he saved Jews from the horror, he was generous to strangers, he saved and fed his family amidst impossible and inconceivable tyranny; and he brought us to America, a country that to him was the heart of the human idea. And then he worked and worked, taking advantage of the opportunity to keep the fruits of his labor for the first time in his life. Because he worked I may read. His flaw--when placed next to his great virtues--was small, although painful for my mother. But she, in her steadfast love, forgave him even that, knowing somehow that his great love of life demanded such a vice. May the Good Lord bless my mother, and forgive my father his transgressions, and allow his noble heart to rest in eternal peace. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared

Discussions - 7 Comments

My sincere condolences. My mother suffered similarly. It is hard on the loved ones to watch the slow decline and death. Death seems merciful at that point and somewhat a relief. The grieving came a little later when I grieved the loss of the person she used to be. Christmas is a hard time to lose a loved one. God bless and comfort you.

My deepest sympathies, Mr. Schramm. Your father must certainly have passed away with a huge amount of pride in what you have accomplished -- something that his courage long ago enabled. May the love and comfort of God be upon you and your family.

My condolences.

May he rest in eternal peace.

Peter, may God rest your father’s soul and grant his pilgrimage its glorious end.

Today’s Catholic Mass reading from chapter 3 of the Book of Sirach [Ecclesasticus] seems most fitting:

"For the LORD sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons. 3 "He who honors his father atones for sins; 4 "he stores up riches who reveres his mother. 5 "He who honors his father is gladdened by children, and when he prays he is heard. 6 "He who reveres his father will live a long life; he obeys the LORD who brings comfort to his mother. 12 "My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives. 13 "Even if his mind fail, be considerate with him; revile him not in the fullness of your strength. 14 "For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, it will serve as a sin offering--it will take lasting root."

My own Dad will be 81 next month, and is getting frailer and frailer. He dropped out of high school in MA to join the Navy after Pearl Harbor, and served in both the Caribbean/Eastern Seaboard and Pacific theaters, eventually sailing into Tokyo Bay as a yeoman aboard a light cruiser, part of the mighty US armada that witnessed the surrender of Japan.

I wonder how many of today’s Islamofascists understand that literally tens of millions of Americans are the children and grandchildren of people who crushed tyranny with their own hands. Does the latest flavor of fascist scum have any idea what kind of stock it’s really up against?

I met him only once and enjoyed it thoroughly. He was lionhearted and worthy of his son.

Dr. Schramm,

My condolences to you and your family on the loss of your father.

Thank you for sharing this quote:

"We were born Americans, but in the wrong place."

May the wisdom of your father be imparted to all of us.

He left a damn good legacy. Take care.

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