Reflecting on what Father's Day means to Me

Marion Lewis Adams, Sr.
1923 - 1995

by C. Henry Adams

It was the Summer of 1979 and 12 months had passed since my brother Marion Lewis Adams, Jr. passed away while serving in the US Army.

Sadden by his death, yet, determine to move forward in life, my parents were outgoing people.

This particular year and season, my Father decided to take my Mother, my nephew and myself on a journey from the State of Georgia to California via car.

This journey took us through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California.   To name a few memorable sites; we saw where JFK was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. We ate Buffalo Burgers in Arizona.  We drove through the desert without air condition per advice of a Gas Station Attendant. We heard, ' Tie a yellow ribbon around the ole oak tree ' a thousand times on the radio during travel.  (LOL)  We visited Las Vegas, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.  We drove by a Car Wash in Los Angeles, California that reminded us of the 1976 Movie named 'Car Wash'.  We cross the Golden Gate Bridge to the disappointment of my nephew, fore, it did not appear gold, but red instead. We rode the San Francisco Street Cars or Trolleys.

Perhaps, this unique venture was a pivotal moment in life for all of us.

In fact, when I pass by the Atlantic Station in Downtown Atlanta, I don't always glance at its wonders.

Why? Well, before there was an Atlantic Station, there once was an Atlantic Steel Plant.  It was where my father worked over 30 years for this company from a switch-man in the Norfolk-Southern Railroad yard to a local Locomotive Engineer employed to ship in and out steel.

I recall when he once was a Crane Operator for the aforementioned; moving scrap metal from bucket rail-cars,when the boon of the crane fell backward on him nearly taking his life.   Yet, as a US Veteran & Montford Point Marine (USMC), his motto was to finish what you start while never giving up the fight.

I realized that I slightly jumped off the tangent here, therefore, allow me to realign.

I would summarize that memories of my late Father aren't a once a year thing.

Fore, I reflect on his ordinary capability to do extraordinary things in life daily.

That being said, if you are a Father or even a Mother, please don't think for once you struggle alone or that your struggles to move forward in life are fruitless.

Yes, struggling is real, but the love, devotion and commitment you give your children are too.

Please continue to be blessed and a blessing to others knowingly or unknowingly.

Happy Father's Day!

C. Henry Adams
Benefits Advisor
Aflac
977 Montreal Rd
Box 1089
Clarkston, Georgia 30021
bienminc@gmail.com
CHA Linkedin 
(404) 254-7187

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