Sixty-two years ago (April 26, 1955) is a day I remember like it was only yesterday.

Two weeks prior to that day, I was on leave from the Navy and spent Easter at home. It was only a few days after I returned to my ship, the U.S. Saufley 465, that I was notified by the Red Cross that my dad had died suddenly.

My dad was only 48 years old and, seemingly, in good health.

The news was like having a bad dream and wanting to wake up.

I was granted an emergency leave to attend the funeral. I remember getting to the funeral home at about 8 p.m. the next day.

There were a lot of people there to pay their respects. In those days, it was customary to keep the funeral home open all night until the funeral service the next day.

Of all the people that paid their respects, the six or seven black men who came at 6:30 that morning are the ones I remember the most.

What impressed me about these men was that before integration, blacks were not allowed in a white funeral home.

These men had worked with my dad. They knocked at the back door and humbly asked the owner if they could come in.

He then asked me if it was OK.

With permission, they came in and shared that my dad was always nice and treated them with respect.

Today, as I think about him, and often do, I think of the man he was.

He loved my mom and showed it. He was a great husband and father. He organized all the sporting activities we had in the community.

He was one of the only dads that came in the community swimming pool to teach his children and others how to swim.

When he died, he left us more than material things. He left us a legacy of being kind and considerate to others.

That spirit has been handed down to his grandchildren and their families. I pray that they accept and receive it.

If you have any questions or comments, please write Harold Keller at Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-652-8477 or e-mail hkeller@comcast.net.