Hey Ya'll-
Thank you all for your kind words and appreciation. In reading your posts in reply to my original post, it made me realize that I left something very important out.
I didn't know Dave or his wife Ann, but I did attend the funeral. It turns out that he only lived about 45 minutes away, and I felt as though I needed to go to see his wife Ann, to give my condolences and to obtain some sense of closure myself. After so many years being called to action while on duty, this one happened off duty, while on the scoot myself, with my wife, and at a bike week event. This is all supposed to be good times right? Anyway, when we're called out on duty, there is some sense of preparedness, dispatch tells us where we're going, a description of the incident and any other details they can provide... at least we have some forewarning, some time, even if only a minute, in the apparatus to prepare. When this happened, it just wasn't right... wrong time, wrong place, wrong, wrong, wrong... we were just dropped into it, whamo. I mean, it's not like I haven't been off duty and had to do things before, but nothing to this scale and especially not another biker, just enjoying a weekend with his wife at the same event as us, staying at the same place, etc, etc. Too many similarities that make you think.
Dave was 62.
He had 6 children, 24 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.
He was Army Special Forces in his younger years.
He had many friends.
There were 6 easels at his funeral with pictures pasted on poster board of Dave with his family, friends, at home, vacations, on his bike, at bike weeks.......
But what really stood out was a letter pasted to one of the easels, in the middle, with pictures of his life surrounding the letter. The letter was from one of his grand-daughters who was 7...
It read...
"Pappy-
I'll miss you. Why did you have to go away.
I know you are still watching over me,
but I really wish you were still here to hug me.
I Love You Pappy,
Samantha"
I think Samantha said it all.