Last Time I Saw Dale

Originally written in November 2004

Dale taking me to the airport, the last time I saw him before he died.

It’s hard to know where to start faced with the challenge of explaining Dale’s part in my life. I’ll start with the last time I saw him.

I was living in London when I found out Dad died. In retrospect it was a miracle, because if it wasn’t for Dad’s funeral, I wouldn’t of had that last chance to see Dale. I can’t remember the last time I saw him before the funeral. I almost didn’t come home for the funeral.

I don’t really remember much, but at the funeral, Dale’s memory sticks out the most. Dale wore his dress blues (the formal Marine uniform). It was an emotional funeral. Some of Dad’s daughters hadn’t seen him in years. My oldest sister read a piece about Dad’s suffering after Vietnam and everyone was crying hard. But not Dale… he sat right next to me and never cried at all. He was so brave, like he knew a Marine should be. At the end of the service a Marine presented Mom with an American flag. Then Dale walked to Dad’s casket, saluted him, and walked out.

Two important things happened because of Dad’s funeral: I got to see Dale for the last time, and all Dad’s children got to meet each other for the first time (my father was married three times and had eight children - all girls except Dale). It was very important to Dale to meet all his sisters and I’m so glad he got the opportunity. When he was little, he would always ask mom, “Am I ever going to meet all my sisters?”

The next day was really great between Dale and I. You know how when you’re a teenager its hard to be friends with your siblings? We’ll that was how it was between Dale and I when I left home for the first time. I was eighteen and Dale was sixteen. Then Dale joined the Marines and I didn’t see him much. When we did see each other, we just didn’t have much to say. I don’t know if it was because of the funeral, or Dale going to Iraq, or me going to London, or all three (or maybe we’re getting old). But for some reason, I felt like things were changing. We had a wonderful day together. We went out to breakfast, we visited my grandparents and we (ok, I) went shopping. Dale and I had so much to say to each other and he was so patient. Shopping with me is not an easy task (right Tim???). We talked about what he wanted to do when he got back… travel, buy a house in the country, and become a state trooper. I felt like I was really getting to know him again. The next morning he took me to the airport, and a few weeks later, the day after my Dad was buried in Arlington, Dale headed back to Iraq.