Veterans Day 2007
John Andrew Quinlan
(Reflections from his mom)
One of the very last conversations John and I engaged in had to do with a bill that sat on Gov. Corzine’s desk. This was a small bill embedded inside a greater piece of political nonsense. John was rather hot to trot about this small bill aimed at dropping the mandatory teaching of Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Columbus Day in the public schools. Both of us fired letters off to Corzine expressing our strong feelings about this. John left for Afghanistan and my last letter to him was to let him know the bill did not pass! I am not sure he read the news before he went down.
On this Veterans Day pause for a few minutes to remember all who have served. We who knew John also knew and still know the tremendous commitment he and all military have made and continue to make enabling us to live in peace and safety each day. Pass the message to your children so they will not become complacent as they grow older.
Veterans Day was always the special day I would either call or email John to thank him and let him know how much I loved him. (This was not the only day!!!)
This year I cannot call him, however I do find myself reflecting on all the good he brought to the world both in his life and in his death. Although we are still working through tremendous feelings of loss we have also been overwhelmed by all the good that has returned to us as a result of his huge circle of life and kindness. He now has two little babies who were given the names Andrew John and Paul Andrew in his memory. His old buddies call and keep in touch. Each week a new kindness is returned to us in his memory.
Above all, John left us the gift of his beautiful girls, Julie, Keely, Maddie, and Erin. All are his bright lights in the world and we love them dearly.
Each night I go outside for a few minutes and look up at the sky always imagining the beauty of the night stars and the sunrises John saw on his many flights. Looking up, I reflect on his short lived yet beautiful life and these lines…..
In one of the stars
I shall be living
In one of them
I shall be laughing
And so it will be
as if all the stars
were laughing
when you look
at the sky at night
The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint- Exupery
