Dear Heidi, sons and daughter, brothers, relatives, friends, fellow veterans, and combat controllers.  On occasions such as this, there is opportunity to engage our hearts in a wide array of emotions: A sense of loss and emptiness; an awareness that life -- as we know it now - without Robbie, will nevermore be the same; a recognition that when one that we love departs, we do focus upon past times of joy, of happiness, and of sharing in the experiences of life.

I believe we would agree that at memorial ceremonies, and at funerals such as this one today, we indeed remember - we recall sharing so many things of life with our loved one, and our friend, Robbie. What we call forth from our memories today depends upon our relationships with this friend, this husband, this daddy, and this fellow warrior.

Our hearts go out to his boys Eric and Jeffery, and to his daughter Ramona Irene.  I'm sure that your minds now lovingly recall the days of childhood.  The times when as a little boy or girl you sat on daddy's lap.  Your hearts surely recall the joys and laughter of some silly episode of long ago.  Your memories must be flooded with tender scenes when daddy's silly faces, or games, or words, would brighten little faces stained with tears over some event, trivial now in these fading years, but which were a source of considerable grief and unhappiness, back then. Our hearts are with you today.  Lean upon those who love you, and care for you, and lean upon each other.

To Robbie's brother Lloyd Knight, we share your loss.  Your mind also now must be flooded with thoughts of yester year, thoughts having to do with family matters, and recollections of times and events and experiences -- either actively shared, or featured in brotherly discussions which would plumb the views, the likes, the quarrels, the philosophies, and apprehensions that only brothers can experience and share.  The Scriptures teach of the superior value of this "brotherly love."  This affection has its own unique place in the experiences of human kind.  God made it that way, so "be not dismayed, whatever betide, God will take care of you!" now that a brother is gone! Lloyd, our prayers are with you.

May I now attempt to convey the depth of our sympathy for Robbie's dear, beloved Tsai Chin, or Heidi, as she is affectionately called.  Heidi, your grief and loss are indeed shared by us all.  In the earliest reaches of time, the existence of the marriage relationship was seen as a necessity.  There is, at least in the Divine scheme of marriage, a greater love and intimacy not found or shared by mortals elsewhere!  Indeed, as is often repeatedly featured in wedding ceremonies, the husband and wife become one:  One in unity; one in affection; one in unfettered love and devotion. Thus it is, when a member of such a Divine relationship passes on to an eternal destiny, the loss is tremendous and profound.

Our offered words of comfort to dear Heidi are to stay strong in your grief.  Touch the hands and hearts now reaching out to comfort you.  Allow the God-given passage of time to attenuate your great sense of loss and grief. Turn to cherish the happy moments recalled from the countless greater joys with Robbie. You must know that we love you, and we enfold you with the love of our hearts in your great loss!

To our fellow combat controllers and friends, we note also our own great sense of loss in the death of Robbie. In unique ways, it was our joy to share in some of Robbie's most significant moments in life; those times and places which were alternating between the frightful and demanding, and times of joy and sharing which I opine can only be savored by soldiers, combatants, and warriors.  The Holy Bible says, "There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."  Dear comrades, even with our disability to articulate the matter in careful words, as combat controllers, along with Robbie, we long ago learned what is the glue!  It indeed is the sharing and caring; the hard places; and training; and deployment, and the taking up the work for our Nation's freedom, even in war, and to the death.  Robbie indeed knew!  He showed forth his awareness with his deeds and his life.  He came up through the ranks -- all the while mindful of the great and grave importance of working, leading, and serving our flag as a team!  Combat Control Teams!  Robbie's spirit would even now join us in our rallying cry "First In - Last Out!" 

The Bible says, "Blessed are those who die in the Lord.  They shall rest from their labors, and their works shall follow after them!"  Robbie, dear comrade, now take your well-earned rest.  The works of your life do "follow on" after you.  Your example and spirit are strong and well with us here today. We salute you, and bid you farewell, old friend!

In closing, may I share appropriate words of a poem with you? You see that I have replaced a few words from a poem made famous by the pen of Alfred Tennyson.

"Sunset and evening star -- and one clear call for me.  And may there be no moaning at the bar, when I put out to sea!  But such a tide, as moving, seems asleep --- too deep for sound or foam - when that which drew from out the boundless deep, turns again home!  Turns home!

Sunset and evening bell!  And, after that, the dark!  And may there be no sadness of farewell, when I, when I, embark!  And though from out the bourn of time and place -- the tide may be bear me far!  I hope to see our comrade face to face, when I have crossed the bar." Amen!

Charlie Jones, Chaplain,
Combat Control Association