Robert F. Petch

I buried a friend today.  Under penetrating blue skies, sunlight danced on stone as cotton clouds floated on gentle breezes.  A haunting bugle sent to the winds the mesmerizing notes of “Taps” that reached every corner of the little cemetery, as trees still in late summer green swayed in rhythm with the sound.  No “plein air” artist could have captured a more perfect scene.  No photographer could have captured a more perfect light.  There are places the brush and the lens simply cannot go.

“Day is done, gone the sun

From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky.

All is well, safely rest.

God is nigh.”

It was such a fitting finale to a long life, well lived.  My friend was 87.  He was of the “Greatest Generation.”  That generation. He joined the Army in his 18^th year, which by the hand of history and the joining of years, placed him in battle uniform in August of 1943…an 18 year old kid, freshly graduated from high school. 

“Go to sleep, peaceful sleep,

May the soldier or sailor,

God keep.

On the land or the deep,

Safe in sleep.”

Less than one year later, he found himself at the confluence of the greatest war in history, and the largest military invasion the world has ever produced.  His assignment:  Utah Beach, Normandy, France.  His unit’s orders:  to go ashore the night before the actual invasion.  The details of that mission he never shared with me.  But he did share other details, the nature of which would have provided me with a lifetime of nightmares. 

He often said the movie “The Longest Day” was the most accurate, overall rendition of what happened that day...to an 18 yr. old kid, freshly graduated from high school. 

Love, good night, must thou go,

When the day, and the night

Need thee so?

All is well.  Speedeth all

To their rest.”

But he was lucky.  He lived.  And like many of his comrades, he carried that burden with him all his years.  Why did he live, and others not?  It was always about the other guy being more worthy.  I think the opening scenes of “Saving Private Ryan,” where Pvt. Ryan visits Normandy as an older man, best describes what many veterans felt to their bones. 

And somewhere along the way, he kind of adopted me.  I was proud to know him, and honored to eulogize him…an 18 year old kid, freshly graduated from high school.

For this life thus spent, Bob Petch has earned our everlasting gratitude and admiration, for he was one of those incomparable men and women who literally helped save our world.

So, rest easy now soldier.  Your duty is well and faithfully done.  You are dismissed.  Enjoy your eternity.

“Thanks and praise, for our days,

‘Neath the sun,‘neath the stars,

‘Neath the sky,

As we go, this we know,

God is nigh.