Mischieveus
05-13-2004, 05:48 AM
My latest drop entitled [A Page From My] Rhyme Book uncovered some of the details in the second verse that I am about to reveal in my story below. Before I start, I want everyone who does read my story to know that the story in its entirety is completely true and that nothing is made up or embellished. I'd also like to say that I'm honored to be the first to kick off Rap World's latest section. Thank you Diamond Eyez for giving me this opportunity.
From Father to Son
I myself am the teller of this story using the information that I have received from relatives in my family and in old newspapers founded through research.
The year 1986 withheld many life altering events for my mother. She was eight and a half months pregnant with me and she was due to have me any day now. Morning breaks, the day is August 4th (I still haven't been born yet) and my parents are arguing. It already had not been a few good months for them anyway. For the first time ever, my father and his step son (my half brother) are getting along while other complications continue to arise. Leaving the house in a rage a fury, both my Mom and dad depart for their own separate jobs; my father at this point is a police officer and member of the Special Operations Division and Emergency Response Team. At approximately 2:20 p.m. a 67 year-old St. Elizabeth's Hospital patient plunged from the 11th Street bridge in Washington D.C. in an attempt to commit suicide. Upon receiving notification via radio report, Officer Kevin Welsh (my father) and his partner drove to the scene of the occurrence. My father proceeded to remove is socks and shoes and any other garment that might have held him back from retrieving the victim and like any other brave and noble officer, he dove into the 30 foot deep murky waters of the Anacostia River. The woman was saved only ten minutes after her leap, but Officer Kevin Welsh didn't make it.
Four hours and thirty minutes later one of the many divers by the name of Nelson Stickley had the displeasure of finding my father's body around the exact same area that he had cried out for help. It was believed as an afterthought that the current in the river was to blame for his departure. All they knew for sure, however, was that the same man who had compiled 72 Felony Arrests, 33 Arrests for fugitives wanted on warrants, more than 41 commendations for courageous and outstanding performances on duty, and more than 60 letters of appreciation from residents he had helped was gone. "It is irony that a life which wanted to be taken cost a life that didn't" (Gaskins, The Washington Post - 8/8/86). What is the most heartbreaking detail, in my own personal opinion, was that when my mother returned to her home in St. Charles County, she found a letter accompanied by a rose in apology left by the very same man who had drowned earlier that day. Her husband had fled home during his lunch break to conclude an argument that neither one of my parents would ever get to see the end of.
Others would tell you that the most heartbreaking detail in the entire story was my birth on what was supposed to be my Father's 35th birthday just sixteen days after his death. Yup, that's right. The same child that will never know what it's like to be raised by his own father (or any for that matter) was born on his daddy's birthday. Part of me believes that there's a possibility that I am a product of reincarnation. Another part is just happy to be alive as Joseph John Welsh, the son of a hero, or heroes rather. My Mom in the seventeen years she's been my mother has never remarried. She vowed from that day on to dedicate her life to her kids and to never disappoint us. Months ago after she handed me a red notebook with the contents being a plethora of old newspapers from the events that took place in August 86', I wrote my Mom a letter and I told her that she "has never disappointed us."
This, I can't claim as my story exactly. It involves me, yes, but it's really the story of my parents whom I love very much even if I've only come to know one of them. I don't have much of a family like some do so I try to hold these thoughts in my mind anytime I feel like I have been cheated in life. I always and will always remember the acts of my father and the decision of my mother.
http://www.geocities.com/tazzmissionist13/JoeDad2.jpg
(My Dad goofing around in his robe at Christmas time)
Kevin Welsh
(August 20th, 1951 - August 4th, 1986)
What was formally known as the 11th Street Bridge is now known as The Kevin Welsh Memorial Bridge. If you live in the D.C. area and you ride across that bridge, always remember the man who gave his life.
To all those who read this, I will leave you with a quote from my Dad that he always gave to new recruits that joined the force that applies to anything you do.
"Never lose your enthusiasm . . . your zeal."
From Father to Son
I myself am the teller of this story using the information that I have received from relatives in my family and in old newspapers founded through research.
The year 1986 withheld many life altering events for my mother. She was eight and a half months pregnant with me and she was due to have me any day now. Morning breaks, the day is August 4th (I still haven't been born yet) and my parents are arguing. It already had not been a few good months for them anyway. For the first time ever, my father and his step son (my half brother) are getting along while other complications continue to arise. Leaving the house in a rage a fury, both my Mom and dad depart for their own separate jobs; my father at this point is a police officer and member of the Special Operations Division and Emergency Response Team. At approximately 2:20 p.m. a 67 year-old St. Elizabeth's Hospital patient plunged from the 11th Street bridge in Washington D.C. in an attempt to commit suicide. Upon receiving notification via radio report, Officer Kevin Welsh (my father) and his partner drove to the scene of the occurrence. My father proceeded to remove is socks and shoes and any other garment that might have held him back from retrieving the victim and like any other brave and noble officer, he dove into the 30 foot deep murky waters of the Anacostia River. The woman was saved only ten minutes after her leap, but Officer Kevin Welsh didn't make it.
Four hours and thirty minutes later one of the many divers by the name of Nelson Stickley had the displeasure of finding my father's body around the exact same area that he had cried out for help. It was believed as an afterthought that the current in the river was to blame for his departure. All they knew for sure, however, was that the same man who had compiled 72 Felony Arrests, 33 Arrests for fugitives wanted on warrants, more than 41 commendations for courageous and outstanding performances on duty, and more than 60 letters of appreciation from residents he had helped was gone. "It is irony that a life which wanted to be taken cost a life that didn't" (Gaskins, The Washington Post - 8/8/86). What is the most heartbreaking detail, in my own personal opinion, was that when my mother returned to her home in St. Charles County, she found a letter accompanied by a rose in apology left by the very same man who had drowned earlier that day. Her husband had fled home during his lunch break to conclude an argument that neither one of my parents would ever get to see the end of.
Others would tell you that the most heartbreaking detail in the entire story was my birth on what was supposed to be my Father's 35th birthday just sixteen days after his death. Yup, that's right. The same child that will never know what it's like to be raised by his own father (or any for that matter) was born on his daddy's birthday. Part of me believes that there's a possibility that I am a product of reincarnation. Another part is just happy to be alive as Joseph John Welsh, the son of a hero, or heroes rather. My Mom in the seventeen years she's been my mother has never remarried. She vowed from that day on to dedicate her life to her kids and to never disappoint us. Months ago after she handed me a red notebook with the contents being a plethora of old newspapers from the events that took place in August 86', I wrote my Mom a letter and I told her that she "has never disappointed us."
This, I can't claim as my story exactly. It involves me, yes, but it's really the story of my parents whom I love very much even if I've only come to know one of them. I don't have much of a family like some do so I try to hold these thoughts in my mind anytime I feel like I have been cheated in life. I always and will always remember the acts of my father and the decision of my mother.
http://www.geocities.com/tazzmissionist13/JoeDad2.jpg
(My Dad goofing around in his robe at Christmas time)
Kevin Welsh
(August 20th, 1951 - August 4th, 1986)
What was formally known as the 11th Street Bridge is now known as The Kevin Welsh Memorial Bridge. If you live in the D.C. area and you ride across that bridge, always remember the man who gave his life.
To all those who read this, I will leave you with a quote from my Dad that he always gave to new recruits that joined the force that applies to anything you do.
"Never lose your enthusiasm . . . your zeal."