| David Klovis grew up in Fresno. His
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| | flashed him a weak smile, put her hand to
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| father had been in the Air Force, loved
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| | her mouth and wept.David pulled his wife
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| everything about airplanes and moved his
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| | to him and shut his eyes against the
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| family into a new home within a mile of
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| | bright heat of his own tears. Stroking
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| the airport's runway.David had inherited
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| | her hair he repeated the only thing he
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| his father's love of all things
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| | was able to utter.... "I love you. I love
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| associated with aviation. He never tired
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| | you, Ellie."~~*~~The night before David
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| of watching the aircraft land and take
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| | was to leave he tucked Ginene into bed,
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| off--or hearing the growl of the
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| | sat on the edge of the mattress and
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| ANG--144th Fighter Wing, F-16 Fighting
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| | studied the drowsy face of his little
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| Falcons.So it was that David had a house
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| | girl. Images of the day-to-day moments he
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| built as close to the airport as the one
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| | shared with his family played out in his
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| he had lived in as a child. At most, it
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| | thoughts. That is what he'd miss the
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| was a ten minute drive from home to
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| | most--the simple pleasures that gave life
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| work--The Air National Guard. Eight years
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| | to the heart of him. He shook his head,
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| ago Staff Sgt. David Klovis had made a
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| | then looked out into the night. Winter's
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| career of the Guard and he had never
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| | cold breath had frosted the edges of the
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| regretted his decision.At thirty years of
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| | window. Unawares, David shivered.He felt
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| age he was very satisfied with life. He
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| | a tug on his sleeve. "Daddy, what's the
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| had a wife, young daughter, and two
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| | matter?"David turned to his daughter.
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| lovable male Labs--one black, one
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| | "I'm going to be gone for a while. I'm
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| chocolate. He had a job he enjoyed and
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| | leaving tomorrow and you and Mommy will
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| going home at the end of the day was
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| | come to the airport to see me off.""Will
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| always a pleasure. His wife, Ellie, with
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| | you be back before dark? Will you be here
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| her ready smile and welcoming embrace was
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| | to tuck me in at night?" A troubled
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| something he looked forward to. Shortly
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| | expression creased her brow.David smiled.
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| after arriving home he'd usually find his
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| | "I'd love that. But I don't know when
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| daughter, Ginene, in the backyard with
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| | I'll be able to. Soon, I hope.""Me, too!"
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| the Labs.The two "boys" and his daughter
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| | She pursed her trembling lips. "I don't
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| were inseparable. David had brought the
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| | much like the dark.""Ah, Honey, I know."
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| siblings home six months before his
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| | He nodded to the Labs. "Hunter and Duncan
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| daughter was born. They were gifts; one
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| | will keep you safe."Ginene looked from
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| for his wife and one for his unborn
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| | the Labs to her dad. She then reached out
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| daughter. Ellie had named them--the black
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| | and hugged her father around the
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| pup was Duncan, and the chocolate pup's
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| | neck.~~*~~It had been a splendid spring
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| name was Hunter.Today they were
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| | day. From her swing Ginene watched heavy,
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| celebrating their fifth birthday. True,
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| | fat clouds with gray bellies traveling
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| the boys' birthday and Ginene's were six
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| | west from the Sierras. The setting sun
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| months apart, but his daughter insisted
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| | cast clean, bright light out, limning the
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| that their birthdays be observed on the
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| | clouds in an orangy glow. A breeze kicked
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| same day, as they were all family in her
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| | up and blew over Ginene like a
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| eyes.He and Ellie had a special evening
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| | sigh.Hunter and Duncan were tussling on
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| planned for Ginene and the boys. A DVD
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| | the lawn. They suddenly looked up and
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| rental, popcorn, and drinks. David was to
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| | whined happily.Ginene climbed out of the
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| get take-out Chinese food for dinner.
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| | swing and stood watching the Labs.
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| After their meal they'd all gather in the
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| | Curious as to why they were behaving so
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| family room to watch a Disney movie,
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| | oddly."My sweet daughter, you have grown
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| "Homeward Bound." Ellie was not too big
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| | some since last I saw you. Oh, how I have
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| on cake. Neither were the boys. Popcorn
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| | missed you."Duncan and Hunter whimpered
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| was everyone's favorite and was a must
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| | and wagged their tales. Ginene crossed
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| when watching a movie. Ice teas or diet
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| | over to them and looked around."You two
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| colas were the cool frosty beverages of
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| | take care of her, will you?" The Labs
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| choice.When the night wore down and David
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| | stood, one to each side of Ginene. They
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| and Ellie found the little ones snuggled
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| | were panting and smiling--their whole
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| together on the soft carpet, with pillows
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| | bodies wagging their welcome.Then, with
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| all around them... it was time for bed.
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| | the senses that children and a few gifted
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| David went to Ginene and talked quietly
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| | adults possess, she gazed out toward the
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| to her, while rocking her shoulder in an
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| | sunset and muttered one word...
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| attempt to awaken her. He ended up
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| | "Daddy?!"~~*~~That morning the global war
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| pulling his daughter into his arms and
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| | on terrorism had claimed the life of many
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| carrying her to her bedroom. Ellie
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| | American patriots. David was killed in a
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| convinced the boys it was bedtime and
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| | grenade attack on the Iraqi-Kuwait
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| directed them to follow her. Reluctant,
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| | border. His name, rank, and cause of
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| with sleepy faces on, they shuffled
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| | death would be added to the growing
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| behind.David gently settled his daughter
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| | Memorial of National Guard men and women
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| into her bed, pulled the covers up to her
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| | who had given their lives for the freedom
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| chin and kissed her warm cheek. Ellie
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| | of strangers.To their family, they are
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| nodded to the boys. They circled three
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| | everything. To their country, they are
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| times, then laid down beside Ginene's
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| | the blood of the nation. The fiber of
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| bed. Within the hour they'd be nestled
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| | integrity, and valor. They are the spirit
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| 'round Ginene. All three breathing deep
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| | of freedom and every American should be
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| and steady, dreaming dreams and sighing
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| | proud to call them "kin."May your day be
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| contentedly.After changing into his
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| | blessed, and every day that wakens you
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| sleeping clothes, David lumbered into the
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| | anew...~~*~~***~~*~~For all the men and
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| kitchen and prepared a pot of coffee. He
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| | women who have served their country, I
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| pulled out a chair and sat at the table.
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| | dedicate this story.Copyright 2005 Kathy
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| He was dearly hoping the coffee would
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| | Pippig HarrisI live in central, sunny
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| clear his mind, anchor his thoughts, so
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| | California, where I share my life with my
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| he could sort out the frantic reality
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| | husband and our furry family. I work full
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| that was delivered to his inbox earlier
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| | time for a living, and I write in order
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| in the day."Honey, something the matter?"
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| | to live fully.My works have been featured
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| Ellie walked over to him and gingerly put
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| | in many online publications and in
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| her hand on his neck. Her skin was cool
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| | traditional print. I am also a weekly
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| and silky. Her touch, calming. She sat
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| | columnist for the publication "Frank
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| down beside him, squeezed his knee
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| | Talk" which is distributed in several
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| reassuringly.His voice was rough,
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| | counties in the tri-state area of
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| subdued. "I received orders today." He
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| | Michigan, Ohio, and Missouri. I've
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| turned to Ellie. "I'm being sent to
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| | written four books and my fifth book,
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| Iraq."Ellie drew in a quick breath, then
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| | "For the Spirit-Soul," a collection of my
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| bit her lower lip. Her eyes grew wide and
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| | short stories and poems was recently
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| gleamed with sudden tears. She nodded,
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| | published.
|
