The evening of the 31st, the hospice nurse prepared us for dad’s passing before morning. So we took turns talking with him, praying as a family throughout the night, shared communion together one last time, anointed him with oil, and waited.

Dad’s oxygen went up and not down. His breathing became less labored. We all said the same thing: Dad was NOT going to miss his pinning ceremony the next morning! And sure enough, he didn’t.

What a beautiful tribute to my dad. He was always so proud of his service and his country. Even after 26 years, he worked as a civilian with Central Command. The Army was his life. I’m sure there was a bit of green that ran through his veins.

So he held on.

After the ceremony, after everyone had said goodbye to dad, the nurse decided to bathe him from head to toe. They changed his bedding, gave him fresh clean clothes, and proudly displayed his certificate and gifts from the ceremony. His wife took her place right next to him, my brother and cousin at his side.

It was time. Daddy was ready and nothing was left to say or do. His daughters were together, big teaching little how to drive, and shielded from the worst moment of our lives… dad’s last breath.

12:09. All Saints Day. The very moment my mom, my aunts, my family in Colombia, and random friends who don’t know each other later told me, were at church, praying, or dedicating a mass for him. All at the same time.

And as a special gift for my mom to remind her that her time with dad mattered, she felt a whisper from the Holy Spirit at the moment of his death. She was at church, praying, and continued to hear a breath, a wind, a whisper behind her. She turned but it was no one. It was a goodbye.

There were hundreds, maybe thousands who have been touched by my father’s life while he was here on earth. I never knew, until this day, just how much he loved and was loved by others. He left his imprint on so many of our hearts with beautiful memories that we will never forget.

Thank you everyone for sharing your times with him. In the days ahead, please feel free to keep sharing and keep remembering. We will need all of you to bring the pieces of dad that you carry in your heart. It is becoming a beautiful tapestry of life that we can all use to heal, to connect, to comfort and to inspire… as we forever carry our deep sorrow for our fallen hero.