by Douglas DeBono, 2006

ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED AT StandingOrders.BlogSpot.Com, March 16, 2006

Today I will attend the Eden prairie Chamber of Commerce luncheon. I will be there as a guest seated close to the front.

The annual Charles De Bono Award will be given to someone who has shown themself to be exceptional volunteer over past several years. It is quite an honor.

People called him Charlie. He was born in 1917 or 1918 on a ship at the end of World War I. He grew up in Italy, France, and North Africa. When the next war rolled around he saw both battles for Tobruk up close and personal (he never talked about it).

He worked as an engineer for the Birtish. He came to America in 1949. One of the millions that entered through Ellis Island, and he marveled at the Statue of Liberty. Over the next four decades he worked for General Mills, raised a family and settled in Minnesota. In retirement he joined the Senior Core of Retired Executives and spent the rest of his life helping out.

The painting is of the Grand Canal in Venice. It is presented to the volunteer of year with a plaque commemorating their selflessness.

This is going to be a tough day. Old memories will float to the surface, and I'll wonder anew if I can ever stand in his shoes. You see while others called him Charlie, I called him dad.