A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. “Your son is here,” she said to
the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patientʼs eyes opened.
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young
uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine
wrapped his toughened fingers around the old manʼs limp ones, squeezing a message of
love and encouragement. The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the
night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old manʼs hand
and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the
Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused.
Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the
night noises of the hospital the
clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff
members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. Now and then
she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his
son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he
had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted
her, “Who was that man?” he asked.
The nurse was startled, “He was your father,” she answered. “No, he wasnʼt,” the Marine
replied. “I never saw him before in my life.”
“Then why didnʼt you say something when I took you to him?”
“I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and
his son just wasnʼt here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was
his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed. I came here tonight to find a Mr.
William Grey. His son was killed in Iraq today, and I was sent to inform him. What was this
Gentlemanʼs Name? “
The nurse with tears in her eyes answered, “Mr. William Grey.....”
The next time someone needs you ... Just Be There!
For the past three decades, Council #5112 has been a council that wanted to –
“Just Be There,” for the Church and the Community.
The members as a group or individually made it a
point to “Just Be There.” The council members served in
many activities and local groups. Members assisted in
the “upgrading”
of the Grange Hall. They have served in
elections. They funded and served in activities that
served the needs of persons with disabilities. They have
marched in the Manchester, “Christmas Parade.” There
have been numerous occasions when members have
served as an “Honor Guard” at diocesan celebrations.
Some members have assisted at the Bishop's
Seminarians' Barbecue. Over the years council
members have sacrificed and dedicated many hours to a
variety of community, church and state council activities, such as, the Annual State
Convention and Quarterly meetings. The numerous hours
of dedication that have kept the council existing for
almost thirtyfive
years are a credit to our Brother Knights
and their families.
It has been an exciting three and onehalf
decades of
fun and commitment to the Church and society. It has
been a privilege to “Just Have Been There,” – chosen
to serve as your chaplain of your council since 1980.
As 2014 enters its final two months, let us Praise God for all the blessings we have
shared in during these active years. May we continue to be a council that dedicates itself
to be a “Just Be There” council.
Fr. Bernie, O.F.M. Cap.
the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patientʼs eyes opened.
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young
uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine
wrapped his toughened fingers around the old manʼs limp ones, squeezing a message of
love and encouragement. The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the
night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old manʼs hand
and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the
Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused.
Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the
night noises of the hospital the
clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff
members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. Now and then
she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his
son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he
had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted
her, “Who was that man?” he asked.
The nurse was startled, “He was your father,” she answered. “No, he wasnʼt,” the Marine
replied. “I never saw him before in my life.”
“Then why didnʼt you say something when I took you to him?”
“I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and
his son just wasnʼt here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was
his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed. I came here tonight to find a Mr.
William Grey. His son was killed in Iraq today, and I was sent to inform him. What was this
Gentlemanʼs Name? “
The nurse with tears in her eyes answered, “Mr. William Grey.....”
The next time someone needs you ... Just Be There!
For the past three decades, Council #5112 has been a council that wanted to –
“Just Be There,” for the Church and the Community.
The members as a group or individually made it a
point to “Just Be There.” The council members served in
many activities and local groups. Members assisted in
the “upgrading”
of the Grange Hall. They have served in
elections. They funded and served in activities that
served the needs of persons with disabilities. They have
marched in the Manchester, “Christmas Parade.” There
have been numerous occasions when members have
served as an “Honor Guard” at diocesan celebrations.
Some members have assisted at the Bishop's
Seminarians' Barbecue. Over the years council
members have sacrificed and dedicated many hours to a
variety of community, church and state council activities, such as, the Annual State
Convention and Quarterly meetings. The numerous hours
of dedication that have kept the council existing for
almost thirtyfive
years are a credit to our Brother Knights
and their families.
It has been an exciting three and onehalf
decades of
fun and commitment to the Church and society. It has
been a privilege to “Just Have Been There,” – chosen
to serve as your chaplain of your council since 1980.
As 2014 enters its final two months, let us Praise God for all the blessings we have
shared in during these active years. May we continue to be a council that dedicates itself
to be a “Just Be There” council.
Fr. Bernie, O.F.M. Cap.
| chaplains_note_for_nov__2014.pdf |
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