Lost my dad in 2012. Throughout my life I always remember my Dad, at random times, spouting off his AAF ID number (from 1945). Could not remember his SS number that he had his whole life, but that number, that he had for 3 years, he never forgot.

Anyway, after his passing, I memorized it. I can spout it off with equal clarity and quickness. He is always with me.

we post pics and a memory in the local paper,
and
the local Nat. guard armory was selling bricks with names on them and dates of service for their
WW 2 monument. for dad

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bendable,

See my avi for how I remember my grandfather.

I lost my dad to cancer 3 weeks ago.

The first thing was that I wrote his obituary, highlighting all of the amazing things he accomplished in life and his career, especially the things he was most proud of...that was very healing

I just do some simple things...telling him I love him and miss him while driving or when I see something that reminds me of him.

I wear a Ukrainian Orthodox cross around my neck, I put my old one on him at the viewing. So that’s a little constant reminder.

I have his original M1 Carbine that I love that reminds me of him. Just lots of little things.

Other than that, I have lots of photos and memories that I will always share with my baby boy as he grows up.

On a funny note, we own a bed and breakfast at the southern tip of New Jersey in a shore town. It’s a massive Old Victorian home that was built around 1900, they purchases it in the 70s when property was cheap (bought it for 28k, now it’d sell for over a million) .

My dad did a lot of the maintenance/repair/up keep on weekends while my mom ran the business. The home obviously has a ton of old wood work, porches, trim, etc that need constant repair, especially right before the summer season. He always did it all himself. For the past few weeks, I’ve been helping my mom and going over the property for much needed repairs. My dad was a brilliant man, but he was no carpenter (he would never let me do stuff for some reason).

Carpentry is a hobby of mine. As I have been fixing a lot of his shitty repair work, I find myself talking to him and busting his balls in regard to the poor craftsmanship. I’m using his tools and it’s nice to remember that he was the last person to touch all the same things that I’m touching/repairing.

Like bobtheelf, my avitar is a remembrance of my first son, Zachariah, who was born prematurely at 23 weeks. The NICU in Las Cruces didn't have tunes small enough and there wasn't time to get to El Paso. His right hand had an extra thumb and I figured he would be king of thumb wars....

Several years ago sigmonkey offered a karma so now there is a tree planted in the Fort Scott National Cemetery which was planted for Zachariah. I snuck a photo of him into the hole as the tree was planted since I couldn't add a plaque. He's there with all of his Great-Grandparents.

We also try to find someone on the Angel Tree each year who is the same age as Zachariah would be.

I also wear an unmarked signet ring on my right pinky for him.

Whenever I fish, I think of PaPa on Mom's side who always took me fishing. Whenever I hunt, I think of Grandpa on Dad's side who loved to huntil doves.

Most of the things are in my head except those mentioned above. Without knowing the reason, one probably thinks I am odd to have a blank signet. It's foe me, not them.

at last years Snyder family reunion , I took mom ad dads 8 1/2 x 11 picture for the tribute table ,
I was surprised at how many picked it up and took a closer look .

did my heart good

I buy a peace Lilly, name it after the loved one, and keep it in the house. Every time I care for it, it reminds me of the loved one. Maybe a little weird but it works for me. My oldest one is 11 years old now.

I wear a stainless steel bracelet (similar to a POW/MIA bracelet) on my right wrist in memory of my son. It has my son's name, DOB, DOD, a cross, and Air Force wings engraved on it. I wear it all day and night, every day. The only times it has been off my wrist has been when going through airport security, when having surgery, or when having an MRI.

I use it as a physical example to discuss with others the grief process. When it was new, the wording was dark and clear, and the stainless steel was bright and shiny. Similarly, my grief then was very clear, dark, and evident. Now, almost 6 years later, the wording is faded but still definitely visible. The stainless is dull and scratched. Likewise, my grief is not as sharp and evident, but it is still there and visible if you look for it.

I carry a $1 bill that was in my brother's wallet. It's really the only thing I have left from him. I wrote a poem that was read at his funeral, and eventually I will put that on the back of the bill. I've had it in my wallet for 20yrs now, folded in-between credit cards so it's still in good shape.

I gave the eulogy at my Mom’s funeral. I’ve spoke a lot in front of an audience but that was tough.

I used to help Mom with the cooking at holidays and family gatherings. Mom hand wrote a cookbook with the family’s favorite recipes and I like to cook from it at the holidays and for guests. It has recipes from both grandmothers and Mom.

In the Jewish community we observe Yahrzeit:

https://www.myjewishlearning.c...iversary-of-a-death/

I lost my Dad 3 years ago to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

One of the watches I wear daily is his 60th birthday present from my step-mom, a Rolex Submariner.

While I don’t wear it as much as I used to, I wear a snake ring (hence the screen name) that my Grandfather picked up in Tunisia during WW2. He gave it to my Dad, and he eventually passed it on to me.

On Father’s Day after I visit his grave site, I do what we did together on our last Father’s Day before he died - a trip to the gun range then lunch at a local Mexican restaurant.

And his Beretta M9A1 is my main competition pistol.

Three years ago today was my mom's funeral. I wear on a chain around my neck the small pendant she was wearing when she passed away, I also carry a 1921 (the year mom was born) Morgan Silver Dollar in my pocket. My sister was taken by cancer eight years ago, before she passed we all started wearing rubber wristbands that say 'CANCER SUCKS', I have never removed it. Honestly, though, I don't need those things to remember them, they are in my heart.

Both of my parents have been gone for some time. I try to do things to honor and remember them as much as possible.
A few examples-
My mom showed me something years ago that I think is a great idea. She always planted mint around the edges of their yard and garden, (bordering into forest/rough ground). What this does is every time you cut the grass, you get this wonderful whiff of mint and it makes me immediately think of her-
She also loved wind chimes- I placed her favorite metal tube chimes on our back porch and every time the breeze blows you get a pleasant soft chiming sound. All great memories-

Every year on the anniversary of the Iwo Jima invasion I do a post about the battle. In memory of my Dad who landed with the first wave and survived the battle. His Service time with the Marines in WW2 was a big part of his life, made him who he was I think.

My dad was a graduate of the USMA class of 1950 (the one that has the highest one year from graduation death rate due to the Korean War).
He attended his 50th class reunion and got a ball cap with his name on the sizing strap embroidered on the back. On the front, it has USMA and his platoon embroidered on the front. It is neat, with gold lettering on a black cap.
He died the day after I came home from the hospital after my prostate removal. I have that hat now. I wear it on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, and Veterans Day.
Go Army!

My Dad died 3 months ago. Only person close to me that has died, I miss him every day. He was ambidextrous & as a kid would always have me practice things with both hands. Every day I write a few lines of "Love you Dad" & other things, over & over in a notebook, all with my left hand. It gives me peace like he can read it from the other side.

I lost my Dad 4 years ago to dementia. He was the most important and influencial person in my life. I keep in my wallet his Eulogy and his Navy Cap on my bookshelf with a capsule of his ashes. I think of him every day and speak to him at times. I speak to him while I am doing work about the house and using the tools that I have of his. " measure 3x, cut once" was something he used to say. I have a difficult time feeling more love for anyone besides my 2 boys. I love and miss him every day.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SIGGUY (THE 1ST),

I wear a black aluminum memorial bracelet to honor my cousin/brother Christopher. He served as a corpsman with the Marine infantry during the retaking of Ramadi. Whenever I'm fortunate enough to visit Arlington, I leave my bracelet on top of his gravesite marker and order a new one for me to wear. For me it's a way to show he's not been forgotten.

This year my daughter was on a school sponsored trip to New York, Gettysburg and Washington DC. She somehow managed to negotiate with one of the chaperones on the trip to break away from the group and go to Section 60, the active section of Arlington to visit Christopher. She didn't;t have a bracelet to leave but wanted to show that he's still remembered.

Every year we put up a picture of my brother and put 3-4 vases of flowers from the yard on a fireplace mantel - the fireplace itself and chimney had his ashes mixed into the mortar/grout and brickwork. There is a plaque with a few words my mother wrote above the mantel.

I also still have the plant he gave me a week before he died. It was a little thing that I found sitting on the kitchen table along with a sci fi book he gave me the morning of my birthday. It now brushes the ceiling of the room it’s in. That plant has traveled cross country with me when I moved.