In Memoriam: James Gastineau
|
Never before was the fleeting, fragile nature of life made more
apparent to me than last week, when I had the following e-mail exchange with Elizabeth Branch,
James Gastineau's great-niece. The following messages and chronology speaks for
itself:
Subject: Your website
Date: Monday, 20 July 1998
From: Elizabeth Branch
To: The Webmaster
Thanks for your website! James Gastineau is my great uncle. It is so
great to be able to see the pictures that he took in WW II. I've not had
an opportunity to talk with him about his war days. My dad told me that
uncle Jimmy worked with the searchlights, etc. Dad tried to relate to me
the stories that uncle Jimmy told him when dad was a boy. Being able to
see the pictures really helps me to get a clearer picture of those
stories.
Thank you!
Elizabeth N. Branch
|
Subject: James Gastineau
Date: Thursday, 23 July 1998
From: Elizabeth Branch
To: The Webmaster
I just wanted to let you know that my great uncle James Gastineau died
on Tuesday night after suffering a stroke. It's kind of ironic that I
was able to see these pictures for the first time only a day before his
death. Thanks again for the wonderful work that you are doing.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Branch
|
This simple exchange of e-mail sums up why this web site exists. Simply
to preserve the memories of men that will, one day, be gone.
To see what Jim saw at war's end, and to share something of his memories
from the first few months of peace in Germany, 1945, please visit
The Jim Gastineau Photo Gallery.
Please Use the LiveAudio Controls to Play "Taps"
Eulogy for a Veteran
(Author Unknown)
|
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the Gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the mornings hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight,
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.
|
|
|
|
