ROB´S 3rd. ANNIVERSARY

My beloved son, today is the third anniversary of your departure. I have been very sad. It has been very difficult not to see, touch or to speak to you, also it has been hard not to hear your voice. You’ll always be with me, deep in my heart, mind and memories. My dearly loved son I remember you every second of my life and death won’t ever make me to forget you.

Last April I became an American Citizen. I would have wanted you to be there next to my side to celebrate this occasion. It felt as if you had been there, because everything that I had experienced was touching and interconnected to you. That day I could not stop thinking that my feelings were the same as yours when you became an American Citizen. When the oath to the flag came, some soldiers surrounded the flag and went to the center of the stage. Soon after the hymn of the United States was sung, and a video of a fight for freedom by soldiers was played on a screen, with a sound of the song “God Bless the U.S.A”. I felt mixed feelings and emotions of sadness, it was very difficult for me to hold my tears back. I sensed your presence in a continuously and I saw you in the screen of my mind with a face of happiness and very proud of me becoming an American Citizen.

This year in May I decided to be present in the Commemorative Memorial day at the wall of veterans in Jacksonville where your name is placed. These events were very emotional, especially when they asked the relatives of the veterans to stand. They honored all of us with applause. Mr. John and Mrs. Kathie Walsh were present next to me for this tribute. On the same trip to Jacksonville I fulfilled my wishes to visit the Ritz, that special place in the beaches area of Jacksonville where you used to meet with your friends to have some drinks. I felt happy to stop over in that place full of your friendship memories.

Olaf and I cheered for you in there!!!

Robert your diploma from the University of Jacksonville is already in "Your Memory Room".

Year around I keep in the refrigerator’s door a calendar with you picture, as well as a calendar with a different picture every month and the last anniversary passing away card that I have written to you.

“LIFE IS ETERNAL AND CONTINUOUS”

GOD BLESS YOU

I love you and miss you,
Your mother
Mildred

I thank Robert’s friends who came from Jacksonville, Washington, and other cities to Orlando to be with me last year at Robert’s 2nd anniversary: John and Kathie Walsh, Rick Gonzalez, Nate and Anneth Hemphil, Mary Nelder and Bill Wellman. Also, thanks to my good friends Loredana, Alberto and Romina for the DVD with Rob´s pictures, it´s awesome. To my brother Hector, my sister in law Zulay and my niece Johanna thank you for supporting me always.

What a great weekend. We shared many of Robert’s anecdotes. In addition I had the opportunity to show Robert´s friends my culinary skills, since Robert had always expressed to his friends compliments for my abilities.He used to say: “If there is something my mother does best, it is cooking”When Robert’s friends tasted Roberts’s favorite Venezuelans dishes, they all agreed with him!!!

We had a dinner on Saturday night and a Creole breakfast Sunday morning.And then proceeded to a Catholic church where we all attended a Spanish Mass.We all prayed for Robert to rest in peace…

Here are some pictures from that memorable weekend:

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Pictures from the visit to the Ritz:

The Jacksonville University diploma

Thank you Bill Wellman for the precious gift of a short video of Robert. It is very meaningful to me, because it is the only video I have of him.