David Silk
David Silk of Connecticut, a World War II Merchant Mariner joined VFP in 1987 and introduced the organization to numerous conflict resolution efforts throughout Central America. David spoke fluent Spanish and did the translation and delivered the presentation that prompted the Salvadoran Association of War Wounded and Incapacitated (ASALDIG) to endorse the Combined Statement of Veterans on September 30, 1992. David and other VFP colleagues agreed to help ASALDIG with prosthetics projects, and to develop a veterans' advocacy program to lobby their government for lilitary servive benefits.
Midway through the Celebration of Life Service held at the United Methodist church in Groton, CT for David Silk, Saturday, April 26, 2003, VFP Paul Brailsford got up and said,
The last time I worked with David was in August 1988, when we both were part of an International Inspection Team led by Canadian Parliamentarian, Libby Davies, who was demanding the right to search for Weapons of Mass Destructions (WMD) on the premises of the General Dynamic Shipyard, builders of the Trident missile submarine in Groton CT.
Afterwards, I discovered David and I were both Merchant Marine navigating officers used to being centered within the visible sea's horizon that encircled us, and able at dusk and dawn to measure the angle of stars above it with a sextant to fix our position.
I find it exciting that, David, when he came ashore set a new course for peace. So now metaphorically using my radio officer's spark transmitter:
I call David Silk whose soul is beyond our visible horizon.
Dar de dar dot. Dar dar de dar. Dar de dar dot,. Dar dar de dar.
C Q C Q
I have a farewell message for you.
Listen. Please listen to my hand keying the dots and dashes.
that become part of a shared rhythm,
within a narrow band of the spectrum of light.
Where sound, touch, and color
have created the illusion,
that we individually are at the focus
through which the Universe is looking at itself,
from billions of points of view.
Points that fade in and out,
so our vision seems forever new.
What we know as death.
That void of silence beyond our senses.
The spacious nothingness.
Lies waiting between the dots and dashes,
of endless waves of creativity.
To be magically touched again by that spark of love
You David shared with the world,
to blossom, again, and again.
Dar de dar dot, DAR DAR de Daaar.
VFP Paul Brailsford