"Remembrance" A tribute to Col. Bob Ryan by Betty Ann McClellan Memories! It is a blessing to think of the past. We can choose to remember the good or the bad. Sometimes our memories fade but our heart and soul seem to hold to those moments that made these feelings so important to our lives. Our community needs to hold on to those moments as we remember Col. Bob Ryan. Our hearts feel the sadness as his family tries to adjust. There are no words that can truly express our feelings and compassion for his family, friends and community. There is a voice in the back of my head, "When you get a moment, I want to talk to you." Spoken in that firm, deep tone. "Oh"' I wonder, "What did I do?" Over the years it was several topics of discussion and sometimes the Colonel would surprise me with a joke. I welcomed each of those moments as I cared for my husband and my mother. He connected me back to the world around me. One of those "I want to talk to you's" turned my life activities back to giving to the community. "Since there is just you and your mom, now you can help at the museum." Most of you know the rest of the story up to the "Who, me, President?" Last week, as we sat on the front porch of the Clifford's house, as Bob was preparing for his History Lesson for our visiting fourth graders, he gave me the last "I want to talk to you." It was a discussion that is very overwhelming today. I wish I could quote his words and I only hope that I can convey his message. We can pass over his introduction on our discussion of "you are doing a good job", but it led to "it is not just standing in front of a group and upholding the parliamentary procedures, it is where your heart is." As he spoke of his past, he enjoyed taking an active part as a member, but he never wanted the "glory of the president's job". He stepped up only because he felt his experience was needed not for himself, but for the museum and the community and because the museum was important to his family and friends. He would rather be "in the trenches" as he did so well finding members, donations and hunting interesting programs. The musical entertainers he found in the past gave us many moments of non-stop toe-tapping. He was our Historian giving us lectures of the early wars and its effects on the United States and Florida. Bob wanted the Eustis Historical Museum to be recognized as one of the outstanding museums it is in the area and for a town our size. One statement summed it all up of Bob's dedication, "You don't take a position for personal gain, you give what you can do for your community." When I asked Bob to be our Chaplain, I got this: "I will have to think and pray on that." He was not going to take an active role any more, but with thought he felt honored to accept. There is a vacancy without Bob, but he leaves us all with a challenge to do our best and work for what we love and what we believe. The last thing I know he would want is for us to make a special fuss or mourn for him. He would want us to remember his faith, his friendship and even his jokes. If you remember a few of these moments with Bob, please share them with us. We would like to share them in our next edition to honor Col. Bob Ryan, as he would like us to remember.