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I sit here this morning sad at the loss of my father in law. He passed this morning in his sleep. We had two of the little grandchildren spend the night, so my wife left for the nursing home and I stayed behind so they could sleep. I'm sitting here with my mind wondering and decided to post this as a little therapy.
The biggest compliment I can give the man is that I wished my father had been half the grandfather to my kids that Bob was. Bob was 94 and had been suffering from dementia for the last two years. He had his good days where he knew everyone and remembered everything and he his bad days where he was sure everyone was out to get him. He had been in failing health for the last five years, but wasn't going to go out unless it was on his own terms. The man has survived three heart attacks, about six strokes and has fallen more than a dozen times.
Bob fought at Normandy and Anzio in WWII. He then spent 31 years serving the public as a fireman. He had to be a leader, because he was a staff sergeant in the army and a lieutenant in the Indianapolis Fire Department. Last October I had to give a "toast" speech in one of my classes. I toasted Bob. Below is my speech. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did giving it. God Speed Bob, I love you.
Toast to Bob Biggs
Let me ask you a question. Would you consider someone who fought in Germany, Italy and France during WWII a real American hero? How about someone who put his life on the line many times in public service as a fireman? I certainly do. Tonight we’re here to toast my father in law Bob Biggs, a WWII veteran and a retired Lieutenant from the IFD.
Bob always found time to attend all five of his grandkids activities whether it be softball, little league, basketball, wrestling or football. As they grew, he was always at their high school football games and wrestling matches cheering them on. Regardless of whether they were in grade school or high school, it was a little tradition of his to give them $2 after the game. Win or lose, he’d tell them it was their pay for a job well done. I remember the time when he missed a wrestling match against Warren Central. He missed it because he was in the hospital after suffering a heart attack earlier that day. When we went back to visit him that evening the first thing he wanted to know was if Shawn had won his match. Always thinking about the grandkids and not about himself.
I still remember very clearly when that same son Shawn won the Marion County championship in wrestling. Bob knew that the only thing harder than winning the Marion County championship was winning the state title. Bob and I are sitting in the stands at Perry Meridian watching Shawn compete. As the clock ticked down and as soon as my sons hand was raised in victory, Bob looked at me and said, “I’ll bet your happy now”. I could tell by the look in his eyes and the smile on his face, that he was probably happier and even more proud than I was.
But being at the sports activities was not his only involvement with his grandkids. Raising five kids was expensive and he knew it. Occasionally without ever asking, he’d call to say he’s coming over to take the boys to get new shoes or a haircut. He was always doing things little like that. Now that his grandkids kids of their own, he opened investment accounts for all eight of his great-grandkids because he knows it’s still expensive to raise a family.
Bob spent 30 years in public service as an Indianapolis firefighter, retiring as a lieutenant in 1981. When the kids were younger, he’d take them to the fire station to show them the fire trucks. He knew kids love that type of stuff, but I think he might have also done it because he wanted to brag a little to his fellow firemen about his grandkids. He would also take them to functions like the fireman’s Christmas parties and Easter egg hunts.
Before all of this, Bob served our country in the Army having fought in France, Italy and Germany including the battles at Normandy and Anzio during WWII. He never talks about his time in the military, because he doesn’t consider himself a hero and his generation (commonly referred to as the greatest generation) wasn’t into self-promotion. He did it because he knew it had to be done. He and his fellow soldiers did it so you who are here today can make your own choices whether it be to attend college, buy a car of your choice and basically live your life without a Nazi or communist government telling you how to live it.
He’ll be 94 years young this coming Saturday.
Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses and drink a toast to my father in law Bob Biggs a real American hero.
The biggest compliment I can give the man is that I wished my father had been half the grandfather to my kids that Bob was. Bob was 94 and had been suffering from dementia for the last two years. He had his good days where he knew everyone and remembered everything and he his bad days where he was sure everyone was out to get him. He had been in failing health for the last five years, but wasn't going to go out unless it was on his own terms. The man has survived three heart attacks, about six strokes and has fallen more than a dozen times.
Bob fought at Normandy and Anzio in WWII. He then spent 31 years serving the public as a fireman. He had to be a leader, because he was a staff sergeant in the army and a lieutenant in the Indianapolis Fire Department. Last October I had to give a "toast" speech in one of my classes. I toasted Bob. Below is my speech. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did giving it. God Speed Bob, I love you.
Toast to Bob Biggs
Let me ask you a question. Would you consider someone who fought in Germany, Italy and France during WWII a real American hero? How about someone who put his life on the line many times in public service as a fireman? I certainly do. Tonight we’re here to toast my father in law Bob Biggs, a WWII veteran and a retired Lieutenant from the IFD.
Bob always found time to attend all five of his grandkids activities whether it be softball, little league, basketball, wrestling or football. As they grew, he was always at their high school football games and wrestling matches cheering them on. Regardless of whether they were in grade school or high school, it was a little tradition of his to give them $2 after the game. Win or lose, he’d tell them it was their pay for a job well done. I remember the time when he missed a wrestling match against Warren Central. He missed it because he was in the hospital after suffering a heart attack earlier that day. When we went back to visit him that evening the first thing he wanted to know was if Shawn had won his match. Always thinking about the grandkids and not about himself.
I still remember very clearly when that same son Shawn won the Marion County championship in wrestling. Bob knew that the only thing harder than winning the Marion County championship was winning the state title. Bob and I are sitting in the stands at Perry Meridian watching Shawn compete. As the clock ticked down and as soon as my sons hand was raised in victory, Bob looked at me and said, “I’ll bet your happy now”. I could tell by the look in his eyes and the smile on his face, that he was probably happier and even more proud than I was.
But being at the sports activities was not his only involvement with his grandkids. Raising five kids was expensive and he knew it. Occasionally without ever asking, he’d call to say he’s coming over to take the boys to get new shoes or a haircut. He was always doing things little like that. Now that his grandkids kids of their own, he opened investment accounts for all eight of his great-grandkids because he knows it’s still expensive to raise a family.
Bob spent 30 years in public service as an Indianapolis firefighter, retiring as a lieutenant in 1981. When the kids were younger, he’d take them to the fire station to show them the fire trucks. He knew kids love that type of stuff, but I think he might have also done it because he wanted to brag a little to his fellow firemen about his grandkids. He would also take them to functions like the fireman’s Christmas parties and Easter egg hunts.
Before all of this, Bob served our country in the Army having fought in France, Italy and Germany including the battles at Normandy and Anzio during WWII. He never talks about his time in the military, because he doesn’t consider himself a hero and his generation (commonly referred to as the greatest generation) wasn’t into self-promotion. He did it because he knew it had to be done. He and his fellow soldiers did it so you who are here today can make your own choices whether it be to attend college, buy a car of your choice and basically live your life without a Nazi or communist government telling you how to live it.
He’ll be 94 years young this coming Saturday.
Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses and drink a toast to my father in law Bob Biggs a real American hero.
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