Memory Lane Memorial Plaque Dedication In WI
Green Lake, Wisconsin Memorial Plaque Dediction
July 13, 2008
Memory Lane
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Our family has been coming to Green Lake, Wisconsin for many years. Dave has visited here for over 45 years, I have come for 37 years and it is here in this idyllic setting that Dustin and Courtney spent their summers since they were born. This is the place where Dustin learned to walk. Dave’s mother has volunteered at the Green Lake Conference Center (GLCC) for almost 25 years.
The GLCC holds many happy memories for our family. Dustin and Courtney covered every inch of this place biking, hiking, swimming, riding paddleboats, playing ping pong, painting ceramics, working in the lapidary shop, buying penny candy from the country store, climbing the many towers, enjoying S’mores around the campfire, attending the Children’s Center and Camp Grow when they were young, all of which created a blissful and carefree summer that they wanted to return to year after year. Another highlight, not to be forgotten, was our drive to the Ripon Cookie Factory for tours, savoring samples and, of course, making purchases. I sent Dustin the chocolate covered mint cookies when he was stationed in AK and he said they were thoroughly enjoyed by the soldiers in his barracks at Ft. Richardson. Courtney and Dustin also used to go with Dave when they were young to the Experimental Aircraft Association or EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in Wisconsin. To this day, it is a huge convention for avid fliers and Dave and I will attend on August 2nd for my birthday. The air show is opened by a group called the Liberty Parachute Team and they descend to the American Anthem. It is always spellbinding to watch the parachutists float downward, unfulring a 34′ x 59′ American flag. Needless to say, it now reminds me of going to Dustin’s airborne graduation ceremony at Fort Benning, GA.
http://www.airventure.org/2008/performers/liberty.html
As the culmination of the observance of Dustin’s birthday weekend, on Sunday, July 13, 2008, our family members gathered to attend the Memorial Plaque Dedication on Memory Lane in honor of Dustin and three others. Dustin’s grandmother, Elaine Donica, made a donation to the GLCC for the plaque that was dedicated in honor of her grandson. After the church service, we all walked over to Memory Lane to see the plaques.
Here are the lyrics to the song by Mark Harris that was played at the dedication service.
The Line Between The Two
A beginning and an ending, dates upon a stone
But the moment in the middle is how we will be known
Cause what defines us can be found within a line
Finding reason for our time.
CHORUS: And the years go by, how they seem to fly
They’ll all be over soon
When our life is done, did we live and love
The way we wanted to
Cause everyday that we leave behind
Goes on to tell the truth
Of how we lived in the line between the two
The line between the two.
Will I walk straight, will I be true
Will I finish strong
Will I stand up for the moment
When I could right a wrong
Because the legacy we LEAVE will never change
It’s how we spend our days. CHORUS
I could live a life for just myself
Or I could live a life for someone else
But I’ll live and die just to hear you say
Well done my son come and be with Me. CHORUS
After the walk to Memory Lane, our family proceded to the point by the lake and released red, white, and blue balloons. We also launched two extra balloons representing Dustin’s friends in Alaska and Texas. Courtney was unable to attend the dedication as she is in graduate summer school, but she requested that a pink balloon be released to Dustin just from her. And in that silent moment, we simply watched as those balloons soared high above the peaceful waters of Green Lake, ascending through the lofty clouds to our loved one whose spirit is always with us.
We then attended a wonderful reception where a memory collage of Dustin was on display.
We would like to thank our family who came to honor Dustin. Having all of you here with us on that day was truly appreciated. Dustin will be in all of our hearts forever. We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to Kathy and Ken from the GLCC for the beautiful memorial dedication, the poster tribute to Dustin and for choosing such a perfect song for the occasion. -Judy Donica
The family of Dustin Donica at the Memory Lane Dedication.
“DUSTIN, FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS!”
