REMEMERING PFC GERARD ABBETT 2-22-2022 WHAT HE CALLED 2SDAY

PFC ABBETT WAS MORE THAN JUST ONE OF OUR FELLOW MEMBERS HE WAS MORE THAN A VIETNAM VETERAN HE WAS THE COMPLETE PACKAGE HE WAS A HERO WORKING EFFORTLESSLY ON THE VETERANS MEMORIAL PARKS IN TAMPA GIVING VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES A PEACEFUL PLACE TO REMEMBER LOVED ONES WE WORKED EFFORTLESSLY ON THE AFGHANISTAN MEMORIAL WALL HE LOST HIS ONLY SON TO WAR HIS VISION SENT CHILLS DOWN MY SPINE THE WAY HE CLICKED HIS HEELS HOLDING THE FLAG DURING TAPS DEDICATION IMPECCABLE TREATING EVERY SOLDIER LIKE THE ONLY SOLDIER VOLUNTEERING AWARDING ROTC STUDENTS PLAQUES AWARDS RIBBONS WE SAT AT MANY MEETINGS DONATING TO VETERANS GROUPS HELPING HOMELESS VETERANS AWARDED HUNDREDS OF HOMELESS VETERANS KEYS TO HOMES ALONG WITH CATHY CASTOR SEATED WITH TAMPA BAY CITY OFFICIALS PFC ABBETT JUST SMILED WITH TEARS ON HIS CHEEKS HE NEVER HESITATED TO HELP VETERANS EVEN WHILE FACING DEATH HE STOOD STRONG STILL DOING TAPS FOR JOHN MCCAIN A MOMENT OF SILENCE PLEASE AS THE AMERICAN LEGION ARRIVED WE WERE ALL SO STUNNED BY HIS BRAVERY DYING HIMSELF READING TO VETERANS GIVING THEM LITERATURE MAKING THEN FEEL SAFE HONORED RESPECTED JAMES HALEY WE WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH HIM AND HIS LOVELY WIFE OF 50 YEARS ALWAYS BY HIS SIDE WE ARE A PURPLE HEART FAMILY HE WAS OUR VERY OWN HERO I REMEMBER GOING OVER THE MONUMENT PLANS FOR POLK COUNTY FINALLY THE FINISH PRODUCT THE BENCHES WE MADE FROM COLLECTION WATER BOTTLE CAPS GIVING SO MUCH SUPPORT TO TROOPS AS WELL SHIPPING BOXES OVERSEAS MY FRIEND WAS NEARING HIS END AS WE SAT WITH THE MAYOR AND THE COMMISIONERS HE GRABBED MY HAND AND SAID IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY THE NEXT WEEK WE WERE HEADED TO BUSHNELL VETERANS PARKS HIS FINAL RESTING PLACE REMEMERING PLACING WREATHS CLEANING OFF ROWS OF TOMBSTONES THE MANY WARRIOR WALKS AROUND THE LAKES IN LAKELAND LINING BOOTS ON THE GROUND STANDING WITH FIRE FIGHTERS FIRST RESPONDERS IN LAKELAND SPECIAL OLYMPICS LAW ENFORCEMENT THE TINY PUPS FOR K9 RESCUE WHAT A BLESSING PFC ABBETT SUCH A GENTLE POWERFUL COURAGEOUS MAN TODAY I'M REMINDED OF THE SACRIFICES MADE BY VIETNAM VETERANS MY HUSBAND BEST FRIEND GERARD ABBETT THE THREE MUSKETEERS INCLUDING THE LATE JUAN CRUZ MY HUSBAND IS THE LAST LIVING LEGEND WHO INSPRIRED THE TAMPA BAY VETERANS PARK POLK COUNTY PURLE HEART SIGNS MAKING MISSION BARBECUE A PURPLE HEART ESTABLISHMENT GOD BLESS PFC GERARD ABBETT AND GOD BLESS AMERICA RESTING PEACE MY DEAR FRIEND NEVER FORGOTTEN TELL JUDGE OLIVER GREEN HAPPY ST PATRICKS DAY HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT THE CHICKEN BREAST AND STEAMED VEGGIES THE ROAST BEEF WAS A BETTER CHOICE I REALLY MISS HAVING LUNCH WITH JUDGE OLIVER GREEN VOLUNTEERING THE MANY CHARITIES THE TALBOT HOUSE THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS AMVETS THE VALENTINES DANCE WITH THE COMMISIONERS TOYS FOR TOTS RAFFLES AUCTIONS REMEMERING OUR K9 WARRIORS INJURED OR LOST THEIR BATTLE SAVING LIVES FLORIDA'S WE FALLEN WE ARE POLK PURPLE HEART COUNTY I MISS YOU ALL DEARLY IT'S NOT THE SAME I KNOW I HAVE ANGELS WATCHING OVER ME I PROMISE TO STAY HEALTHY AND TRY NOT TO STRESS SENDING HUGS TO HEAVEN THIS BLESSED 2SDAY AS YOU WOULD SAY REST IN PEACE PFC ABBETT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE PULL PULL PULL READY AIM FIRE READY AIM FIRE READY AIM FIRE NEVER FORGOTTEN I WILL KEEP THIS SHELL UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN MY SHAMROCKS ARE BLOWING