In Memoriam

Melvin A. McKenzie
3 February 1916 — 25 February 2007

Eulogy given by Frances McKenzie, his daughter
Naval Aviation Memorial Chapel
Naval Air Station Pensacola
Florida
Monday 5 March 2007

To some, Melvin McKenzie was a great hero of World War II. To others he was a great friend and colleague. But to me, he was simply, "My Dad".

The one who taught me to swim before I could walk. The one who came to every school concert and dance recital and college graduation. The one I could call to "come and get me" when I got stranded.

One of my favorite pictures of Dad shows him carefully hand stitching the final touches of a dance tutu — full of frills and lace — wearing my mother’s 1950s rhinestone glasses to help him see the detail work.

I remember Dad’s high-top l’il Abner shoes and the leather case for his papers stamped “Army Air Corps”.

There are many other memories, but mostly I remember the happy light in his eyes when he thought about his children and we shared what we were doing in life.

Thanks, Dad, for loving us.

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See also:

Thursday, January 05, 2006
My Father Honored for WWII Heroism
http://mckenzif.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.html