Robert Stethem, I Will Never Forget You
January 21, 2007
Robert Dean Stethem is my “soul child.” I will never forget hearing on the news of his heinous murder by Palestinian terrorists on June 15, 1985. Just the sound of that report coming over the television was enough to bring me to tears.
I can remember standing in the wanigan (Alaskan for “room added onto mobile home”) watching that newscast. I felt goosebumps and tears of fury, and an incredible sense of grief and loss, all at the same time. I had a feeling that even though it was an especially brutal murder, it would be quickly forgotten by the press, so I made a promise in my heart: “Robert Stethem, I will never forget you!” Through the years, it has been both easy and hard to keep that promise. Easy, because it could have been one of my own three sons on that plane that day, on their way home after a tour of duty. Hard, because life does tend to get in the way of the promises we make to ourselves, as well as to those far away. After the initial strength of the resolve wore off, I had to remind myself on a regular basis that I’d made a promise, and I meant to keep it, come Hell or high water.
I finally had the opportunity to do something a little more permanent about a memorial for Robert when I joined the brainy (and not so brainy), rollicking bunch at Free Republic, and built a profile page there, which now features its dedication to the memory of Robert and recalls the horror of his murder for those browsing the website who wish to stop by the profile page to learn a little more about me.
Today, as I read through my little “litany” of blogsites, I came to the post by Pierre LeGrande on his “Pink Flamingo Bar” page, and discovered the link above. It also contained a link to more information about Robert that I copied to the profile page on FR. Thanks, Pierre…
Robert Stethem, it looks like we have not forgotten you, after all. Rest in peace.
Please, go to all the links you can find regarding this vicious crime, read them, and remember Robert. His death should never be in vain.
