My Uncle Erv was a very sharp man. He was still as sharp as ever, even at the age of 95 and I’m so glad I got to spend a few days with him just a month ago. I will truly miss him.
Duty, reliability, honor, dignity and respect are all the qualities that my Uncle possessed. He would frequently use a German word and tell me “to be a Men(t)sch”, which means, “be a human being” or “be a person of integrity and honor”. I remember thinking long ago that my Uncle worked long and hard hours at Fort Meade. He would always tell me that this was one of the reasons I could sleep soundly at night. Some of my most cherished memories of him were our walks through the civil war battle fields of Manassas, Antietam, and Gettysburg, to name a few. That was a time for me to truly understand what sacrifices were made on those hallowed grounds. My Uncle’s contributions in serving in the Army in WWII and working at our nation’s National Security Agency made it clear to me that all these warriors make it possible for me and other Americans to live freely in this great country of ours. He was my hero.
The other passion we shared was fishing and my Uncle Erv took me on charter fishing trips each year for several years. Our trips to Crisfield, Maryland located on the Eastern Shore of Chesapeake Bay were always fun fishing adventures. Being on the water would be time for him to share his life experiences and to share his favorite quotes from “Life’s little Instruction Book”. Like instruction number 780, “Don’t let weeds grow around your dreams”.
We would also have many long phone calls trying to solve the world’s problems and he always offered a point of view based on quiet, measured wisdom. A quote from my Uncle’s favorite general, General Stonewall Jackson says it best, “You may be whatever you resolve to be”. My Uncle never missed an opportunity to teach me about the facts of life and I’m a better man for it. Goodbye my hero, my warrior, I truly love you and you’ll always live in my heart.
