Saying goodbye to a real American hero

Yesterday, I said goodbye to a genuine American hero.

Lt. Colonel Frank Vavrek, US Army (retired) was in Green Cove Spring's wonderful Kindred Hospital with a debilitating illness.  I had had Frank in my thoughts all morning, and I told my wife I felt like I needed to go see him.

When I got to his hospital room, his loving wife looked up and saw me.  When she came to the door to greet me, I said, "Hi, Carol.  How's he doing today?"  Through her tears, she smiled, and said, "Tom, you can go in and tell him goodbye."

As he struggled to breath, I prayed and quietly cried at his bedside at the impending loss of a wonderful friend and thought to myself, "Here goes another American hero.  We're losing them each day."