The hardest part of all this (besides losing Marty in the first place) was letting him go off to war without giving him a hug goodbye or telling him how much I loved him.

I can still see him getting on the bus when he was leaving for Nam and I wanted so much to hug him, but back then that just wasn't cool, so I didn't push the issue. I would sell my soul to be able to re-live that moment. I know he's watching all of us and he knows how I feel - I would just like to be able to put my arms around him and hear my voice say what I will never be able to ever say again.

The good side of that experience is I never let any family member say goodbye without letting them know how much I love them. You just never know when the opportunity to say that will never come again.....

Gail