{"id":2633,"date":"2013-08-23T09:35:02","date_gmt":"2013-08-23T15:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.blackactivistwg.org\/blog\/?p=2633"},"modified":"2013-08-23T10:59:29","modified_gmt":"2013-08-23T16:59:29","slug":"ode-to-my-father-james-s-pinkney-certificate-awarded-from-the-u-s-president-2007","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.blackactivistwg.org\/blog\/ode-to-my-father-james-s-pinkney-certificate-awarded-from-the-u-s-president-2007\/","title":{"rendered":"Ode To My Father \u2013 JAMES S. PINKNEY \/ Certificate Awarded from the U.S. President, 2007"},"content":{"rendered":"

FOR: The late James S. Pinkney from his son, Larry Pinkney<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dad,<\/p>\n

Though you passed on from this earth some years ago, not a day passes that I am not reminded of you. Your humor, your skills, and most of all your love grow stronger \u2013 not weaker \u2013 with the passage of time. I remember, as if it were yesterday, how calm you were in the face of so many adversities.<\/p>\n

Dad, I was often critical of you. You remember…I was a part of that ‘know it all’ generation that thought it could and would change everything for the better. I was young and sometimes foolish, but dad, I just want you to know that there was never an instant<\/strong> that I did not admire you. You and mom instilled principles that I have never<\/strong> forgotten. You both did the best that you could do. I did not always understand the hardships that you endured for me and the rest of our family, but I knew that you were always there for me. And though I know that we all have our imperfections, I could never have asked for a better father.<\/p>\n

Yes, dad, I’m a grown man and still<\/strong><\/span> trying to change this nation and world for the better. And sometimes it seems that so many people are blind, mean, or stuck on stupid \u2013 hating each other and\/or using each other \u2013 for their own greedy, selfish purposes. I often wonder, ‘what would dad do or say in these circumstances?’<\/p>\n

You were so many things: a planter, a mechanic, a musician, a soldier, a school teacher, a human \u2013 but above all else \u2013 you were my father.<\/strong> THANK YOU!<\/p>\n

Dad, I miss you so much<\/strong> and there are no words to adequately tell you how much I love and admire you and all that you did for me. Perhaps the old song by the Chi-Lites (from back in the day) titled, Let Me Be The Man My Daddy Was<\/em>, best summarizes what I’ve been trying to say to you. (http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=LRYoBzf8fIE<\/a>) Wherever you are \u2013 listen and smile as do I when I think of you.<\/p>\n

Please let these grateful words be my ode to you. May you rest in eternal peace…<\/p>\n

Your loving son,<\/p>\n

Larry<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Flag draped coffin of James S. Pinkney flanked by US Military Honor Guard
(June 29, 2007)<\/p><\/div>\n

US Presidential Certificate for James S. Pinkney signed by President George W. Bush in 2007<\/strong> (image below)<\/p>\n

The United States of America
\nhonors the memory of
\nJames S. Pinkney<\/strong><\/p>\n

This certificate is awarded by a grateful nation in recognition of devoted and selfless consecration to the service of our country in the Armed Forces of the United States.<\/p>\n

George W. Bush
\nPresident of the United States<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

US Presidential Certificate for James S. Pinkney signed by President George W. Bush in 2007<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FOR: The late James S. Pinkney from his son, Larry Pinkney<\/p>\n

Dad,<\/p>\n

Though you passed on from this earth some years ago, not a day passes that I am not reminded of you. Your humor, your skills, and most of all your love grow stronger \u2013 not weaker \u2013 with the passage of time. I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[39,51,50,56],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.blackactivistwg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.blackactivistwg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.blackactivistwg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.blackactivistwg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.blackactivistwg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2633"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"http:\/\/www.blackactivistwg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2647,"href":"http:\/\/www.blackactivistwg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2633\/revisions\/2647"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.blackactivistwg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.blackactivistwg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.blackactivistwg.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}