Very sad day: Capt. Zeb Alford passes away

[peggy]

Dear Precious friends,

I am Peggy, the 2nd dtr., again. You are very special to my sisters and me. Your thoughts and prayers are uplifting and I wish I could meet all of you.

My dad is getting much glory and I thank you for that. He served his country well and I am grateful and very proud of him. I already miss him so much, but to me he was my dad. I didn't have to salute him, just had to mind him. He used to lasso us as we ran across our oceanfront yard in Maine. He and mom took us trick or treating. He was a great Santa Claus. He was a big horse we could ride. He was a fabulous jump roper. We snow skiied, sailed, and scuba dived together. He could navigate by the stars. To me, sometimes he seemed bigger than life itself.

But I want you to know a bit about the hero who didn't get the recognition, but did one of the toughest jobs ever...raising 4 of the next generation...our dear mother, Margaret, who is alive and well. I dare say Dad could have had such an illustrious career had it not been for my mother supporting his every career move, packing and unpacking houses while he was at sea, birthing 4 daughters, getting us in schools, hosting incredibe events for other military personnel, getting 4 little girls cleaned and dressed and on time to submarine christenings and other Navy events, helping younger officer's wives who were having difficulty adjusting to new surroundings, keeping dad present in our lives while he was miles away under the ocean, being a mom and dad while he was gone for 3 to 6 months at a time, hosting more rockin' Navy parties than I can remember at all of our different homes, making each new house a home that looked like it was off the pages of House and Garden, refurbishing homes - at times by herself...I have hit only the tip of the iceberg. To all you Navy men in my dad's generation, I applaud your brave wives who gave you comfort and the freedom to serve your country as effectively as you did.

My dad retired from the Navy in 1973 and years later in 1984, sadly, my parents divorced. It was heartbreaking for us girls. But when my parents were together they gave us the best and most wonderful childhood I could ever imagine. We were all grown women when their marriage ended. It didn't hurt any less at that age.

Fortuneately, they both infused much love as we grew up. They taught us all the good lessons one needs to learn. They had fun together, they laughed together, they danced together, and they always played with their girls. God's greatest gift to me was giving me my parents.

I just wanted you to know a bit about my other hero.

Peggy

[robj250]

Rest In Peace CAPT Zeb.

Rob