下面是我写的一篇旧文， 因参加一位华人女兵的追悼会而发。现重发出来作为对刘姑娘美芸的悼念. 作为一为家中有多位亲人曾在和依然在军队服务的华人。 对刘姑娘美芸的去世深感悲痛。刘姑娘美芸代表了华人对美国的热爱和奉献。星条旗上同样有我们的鲜血。我们的路依然很长。

 I went to Cindy's memorial service today, together with many friends and her navy fellows.   Cindy  was a beautiful and shy girl,  you could never imagine she was a brave navy soldier who fought in Gulf.   Cindy had worked as a volunteer in our office for many years.  She always quietly smiled,  sitting in office and waiting to be called for pushing a wheelchair patient around,  even after she had been diagnosed with terminal cancer that unfortunately had advanced. 

While we wished her getting better,  surprisingly,  we heard she will get married.  She showed her another side as a Chinese traditional girl.  She insisted to get married when she knew she only had two months to live with the cancer.  Her touching wedding on wheelchair had been broadcasted by MSNBC nationwide. 

Cindy's simple wedding dress was fluttering in breeze,  we pushed her wheelchair in and celebrated for her last happy moment of her life.  Heaven will be the place she belongs to.

Her mother, a first generation of Chinese American,  made a speech   at the memorial service in Cantonese about the family and Cindy.  They never were rich or succeed by any standard,  but persistently hold  on their American dream and Chinese inheritance as well.  She cannot even speak much English after so many years living in USA, but  her words deeply moved everyone after being interpreted.

When the presentation of flag started,  step by step,  two honor female guards dignifiedly folded  and presented an American national flag to the family on behalf of this grateful nation as a token of appreciation,  all people stood up to salute,  a military bugler aside played Taps,  the sound reverberated loudly in the hall.

Day is done, gone the sun

From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky

All is well, safely rest

God is nigh.