American ideals: Hard work, service and family
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His favorite phrase at the time I knew him was "I'm as old as dirt." He got a kick out of pointing to the ground before declaring that he rivaled what was just beneath the grass in his nearly 64 years of experience.
I may not remember much from my time as a four-year-old. Still, I remember a man who showed me just how close you can be to reaching the very American ideal of the pursuit of happiness through community, achievement, and cherishing family.
My grandfather, Robert "Bob" Kelly, grew up in Meyersdale, Pa., with a large family. He took pride in his Irish roots, and he worked hard for what he had.
Bill Kelly, my great-uncle, shared parts of my grandfather's life that exemplify his dedication to his values and to this country.
He recalled that Bob graduated from Meyersdale Area High School in 1956 and entered the United States Army soon after.
Bob then completed his basic training at Fort Hood in Texas before serving overseas in Germany from 1956 to 1958. He was assigned to the armored division during a time when Bill remembered tensions increasing in Europe, particularly around Berlin, Germany.
Bill added that Bob loved sharing that Elvis Presley was later stationed in Germany following his service.
Bob was well-known for excelling in basketball overseas and used the sport as an outlet during his service.
Bill and my great aunt, Deb Kelly, added that "Too often, family histories fade away because no one pauses to ask."
Not only did my grandfather work hard for what he had in serving his country, but he also worked hard to achieve his goals in the sporting world.
Bill recalled that Bob was named the most valuable player in high school basketball and excelled in high school football.
He added that Bob's athletic ability shone through in his church basketball and softball league, scoring 86 points in one basketball game and a .868 batting average in softball.
My grandfather showed me that one of his greatest achievements was standing for family. He was a loving father of four kids and a dedicated husband to my grandmother Sandra.
Bob was what it meant to be an American and truly patriotic, from making his grandchild feel like the most special person in the world, serving his country, valuing hard work, to being the best dad and person he could be.
After his passing, when I was about 4-years-old and he was 64, it felt like the world shattered. He was the glue.
But the family stuck together and did as he would do; they loved deeply, put in the work, and held to their values.