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Many of us of advanced age have lost a loved one, in particular a father. Many of those fathers served in WWII as my father did. He was on Guadalcanal in the Army and survived everything to led a productive life. Around 2000 he received a letter from the Veterans Dept that a dog tag had been found and returned to the Dept. It was returned to him with a letter from the person that found it. He was surprised to say the least. He passed away in 2006 at age 97. At the start of '21 I thought how I could honor his life, so I put that dog tag on my key FOB for my '67. In a sense he rides with me every time I go out crusing. RIP dad!
Big Jim Amick Far Left. The Plane he Piloted over Germany! 54 Missions. (Jest a Tool)
Jim came back from Europe, Graduated from Pitt in 3 years while working Night Shift at J&L Steel on Second Ave, Pittsburgh, Pa. Started what became the Biggest Rigging Company in Pittsburgh.
A truly amazing Generation!!
A true Corvette Guy.....He travels with me every time I start her up!!!
Nice tribute to your dad, he would love it. I bought my 64 soon after it had been restored. It had 87 miles on the odometer. When it read 1924 it stopped. That was the year my father was born and a reason I would not get it fixed. He was also a WWII veteran.
I grew up working on the family cars with my dad. I still have many of his tools we used together, and I continue to use them daily. Sadly, I lost him when he was only 55 years old, and I often think of him and all the great memories when I pull out a certain tool. In a strange way, it’s almost like he is still there, helping me with the task at hand. He, too, was in WWII, as a pilot of B-29s and B-24s. I keep these magnets on my tool chest as a tribute to him.
That is such an awesome story and a great tribute to your father! It's so terrific that the Veterans Department is still remembering our veterans after so many years - kudos to them!
I had a similar thing happen after my dad, and Navy WWII veteran, died in 1996. A few month later, I received a letter that stated "The President has requested that the enclosed certificate be sent in memory of your beloved, deceased veteran" . . . and the certificate was signed by Pres Clinton (one of the only worthwhile things he ever did???).
I am fortunate to still have my Dad with me . He will be 91 in June. He served in Korea 1952 and past his CIB he was awarded a Bronze star. It's the quotes that have always been with me.. The one most that has been with me since I went to work . , and I shared with all my work mates and suburdonates . " You think its cold , You should have been with me on the 38th parallel" . God Bless your father and all who made our lives possible and those that still are.
My Dad was a WW II army veteran and served in New Guinea during the war and went on to retire from the AF years later. He gave this flag and his bayonet to my son before he passed away in 2004 at 82 years old.
Big Jim Amick Far Left. The Plane he Piloted over Germany! 54 Missions. (Jest a Tool)
Jim came back from Europe, Graduated from Pitt in 3 years while working Night Shift at J&L Steel on Second Ave, Pittsburgh, Pa. Started what became the Biggest Rigging Company in Pittsburgh.
A truly amazing Generation!!
A true Corvette Guy.....He travels with me every time I start her up!!!
A long-time good friend of mine passed away just after Christmas at age 80....Ward was one of the early members of the NCRS and had been doing "Corvette stuff" with a passion for well over 50 years. He had a '69 convertible that he put a great deal of work into, and campaigned it in the NCRS judging system with the goal of achieving a coveted "Bow Tie Award" for originality. He was successful and obtained a "Bow Tie" plaque to recognize his achievement. I was with him at the NCRS National Meet at the NCM in 2000 when he was presented the award (I took the picture below (I had my '65 Coupe Top Flighted at this same meet). He later sold the car, but kept the plaque. In any case, he was very proud of having attained that award and displayed it with pride in his garage. After he passed away, his children, who were not really into cars, elected to liquidate his household and personal belongings in an on-line auction, and the Bow Tie plaque was included in a lot including a St. Louis Corvette Plant brick. After some serious bidding, I succeeded in getting the plaque and now I have it on proud display in my garage, in his honor. Good memories.
Wonderful tribute having your Dad riding shotgun with the key fob. Always a reminder of memories that don’t go away.
Back in ‘67 a local Goodies speed shop sold 327/365 long blocks for 500 bucks. My best buddy bought one to replace the 283 in his ‘64 Nova. Those were fun times and great memories in that car.
When his draft notice arrived, the car was mothballed. After coming home from the service in early ‘71 the car was up and and running again. Some months later the engine sucked a valve. The engine was taken apart to survey the damage. Other life things got in the way and the engine remained apart.
A few years later, by then, I had my ‘64. Then one day a connecting rod let loose and ruined the original block. Another block was acquired.
My bud gave me the crank out of his 327 to use in the new engine build for my ‘64. The crank was in perfect shape.
In 2006 my best friend passed unexpectedly. Only 58.
Every time my car starts up and heads out on the road to wherever, I feel my best friend rides along too.
My father too was at Guadalcanal...One hundred and twenty five Marines in his platoon landed on the beach and ten of them made it home...My father included...
He used the G.I. Bill to put himself through optometry school and became one of the most respected optometrists in St. Louis.
He loved the '64 Coupe that I bought as a teenager and he finally bought his '79 Corvette after he realized his golf clubs would fit into the rear hatch area!....
Great men serving a great country...RIP Dad (1992)......
Good job Dennis. I have my brother covered with his initials on the mirror taken from the loan papers on the car. I also have my dad’s dog tag and some German flack pieces from the engine cowl on his P47. The dog tag will probably be easier to implement than the flak or a 98K. Dad was is the 9th Air Force Army Air Corp Feb 41 - Aug 45.
I bring the car by periodically..... show Dad that we are keeping it running well, and tell him what has been going on..... usually bring him a Coke as well......
My dad enlisted in Army Air Corps before Pearl Harbor. He came home in 1945. He died in 1959 when I was 11 years old. The flag on his casket had 48 stars and I fly it on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
03-28-2021, 12:06 PM
How to honor a deceased loved one in you Vette.
Dennis
