Amazing Grace

God continues to amaze me!

His Love knows NO boundary!

Through time, He reached out to connect me with a past not forgotten by Him.

My Brother

Cpt. James Alan Petrie born on 1/6/

died in Cambodia on June 26,1970

Some of the past is still blurry,

the loss of Jimmy was almost more than "Our Family" could bare.

We had a "Big BLACK Hole" after his death.

I hung on to Jimmy by old letters he wrote to me, old & now yellowing photos,

his flag & his purple heart. My memories of time spent with him, his wit.

I could cling onto him by setting up a family tree that was so lonely with no wife, no child.

Through the years, I would go on Ancestry.com to look up family ties.

Build Family Trees & see just how I came to be, & where I fit into the "Big Picture".

At the point in the "Petrie Tree", there it was...that Big Black Hole

that was once filled with the Love of James.

I felt so sad, "Only the Good die young", I'd say to myself. And, that he was!

Everyone that knew him, Loved him!

He was Larger than life.

A Man the Ladies adored and a Man's Man!

This past Thanksgiving, I got out of storage the Beautiful, Red, White & Blue,

American Flag, that draped Jimmy's coffin. Ceremonially folded in that old familiar style.

Handed down to me, as the years went by, with the passing of Dad & Mom Petrie.

"Ole' Glory" , Our Family keepsake & remembrance of Cpt. James A. Petrie.

And, of course his "Purple Heart" The flag sat on the fire place mantel all through the season. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, James Birthday, January 6th.

Coming to the age where I wanted to hand down the flag to the next generation.

I wondered, & pondered often,

But, who was worthy, I wondered? Who could remember or appreciate the sacrifice of this flag and what it meant to me?

Jimmy will have been gone over forty years, taken in that damn war we were not even allowed to talk about! It just wasn't fair! I could go to Jimmy's lovely grave site over-looking the sea with all the pretty white crosses in a row. Or, "The Wall" and see his name etched in time for all to see. "The Wall", we all, who loss one so precious as James,

"The Wall", our consolation."

Having a hunger so deep within my very soul! Stronger than it had ever been before!

On January 6, 2012, the would be birthday of James.

I always feel so melancholy on this day,

so with "His Flag" to my heart, once again I go to Ancestry.com, travel through time, family tie to family tie, tree, to Ever-Lasting tree.

hunting for records, focusing on James this day.

Hoping, Praying I would find an answer, a trace, a clue, to something unknown, something forgotten, or yet to be reveled!

For under James Alan Petrie, No wife, No Child.

No one to give this precious flag to!

Nothing but "The Big Black Hole", that was once my Jimmy!

I Loved Him!

I STILL LOVE HIM!

The tears would begin to roll....& roll

I punched up the records.....& to my disbelief a name..."Patrick Petrie"...PATRICK PETRIE!

Who was Patrick Petrie????!!!!

Could it be possible????!!!!

A Son looking for his father.... Patrick was looking for his father James A. Petrie!

My heart was leaping, singing, wondering.

A Love Child, a Child of Love!

Oh! Please God...let it be so!

I knew of no child for James, but, yet it could be possible.

Jimmy had done two tours in Vietnam, back and forth on furlow several times.

In those days No email, only snail mail, No computers.

Communications were slow to say the least, writing back & forth from another country.

And, Cpt. James often had his men out, doing what army men do.

Patrick Petrie born March 2, 1969, looking for a connections to his Daddy James Alan Petrie, born January 6, & killed in Cambodia June 26, 1970.

My heart was jumping for joy! It could be possible! All things are possible for those who believe!

I quickly jetted off a message to Patrick through Ancestry.com.

Leaving my telephone messaging number,asking for a call back.

I could hardly sleep that night wondering if it could be so, and if Patrick would call.

I awoke early before five am. to check my messages.

With one sound of his voice through the message I had my answer!

Oh My GOD! I believe it is TRUE!

The faint whisper of the tone of a voice i remember from so long ago!

DNA test, I did not need one! In my Heart of Hearts, I KNOW!

His area code...OK he is three hours ahead of me....i am so impatient...hurry up time pass...