Ronald E. Bereman: In Loving Memory

High Flight

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter silvered wings

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds……and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of….wheeled and soared and swung,
high in the sunlit silence. Hovering there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctitiy of space
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

James Gillespie Magee, Jr. was killed
In action a week after he sent this to his parents.

Ronald kept this poem on his bedroom wall.

(Robert Bloch, 832nd)

Near sixty years since World War II,
The warriors that much older grew.
Lads then eighteen, with peach-fuzz cheek
Now pause and think before they speak
Of good and true and trusted friends,
Ones who stood tall when life depends.
So many now fall by the way;
Unsung, their deeds of yesterday,
Remembered well by those still here,
Heroes, perhaps, of bygone year.
The sound of Taps, that bugle call,
Is reason not for tears at all.
We all must make that one last flight;
May your flight be smooth, may the flak be light.

Ronald's Obituary

Ronald E Bereman
October 08, 1919 - January 09, 2003

Birthplace: Indianapolis, IN
Resided In: Largo Florida USA

Bereman, Ronald E., “Ron”, 83, of Largo, died Thursday, January 9th, 2003 at his home. He was born in Indianapolis, IN and came here in 2001 from Fort Myers. Locally, he was a member of First United Methodist Church in Largo. He was a WW II Air Force veteran where he retired as a Major. He was a pilot and flew 30 missions over Germany, two of those as the lead pilot. He was the recipient of the distinguished flying cross medal and the Air Force medal with oak leaf clusters. He was a member of the 486th Bomber Group whose remaining five members still hold annual reunions, and the 43D Pilot Group. After retiring from the Air Force, he was an Air Traffic Controller for more than 30 years, retiring as Tower Chief at the Hilo, Hawaii airport. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Frances; 3 sons, Ronald E., II of Boynton Beach, FL; Ernest L. of Ponca City, OK; Richard L. of Huffman, TX; 2 daughters, Shelley L. Bereman-Benevides of Hilo, HI; Pamela L. Norris of Kenneth City; 1 sister, Lenos Perry of Cloverdale, IN; 19 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes & Cremation Tribute Center-Largo Chapel.

God looked around His garden and He found an empty place.
He then looked down upon the earth and saw your tired face.
He put His arms around you and lifted you to rest.
God's garden must be beautiful-He always takes the best.
He saw the roads were getting rough and the hills too hard to climb.
So He closed your weary eyelids and whispered "Peace be thine."
It broke my heart to lose you, but you did not go alone.
For part of me went with you, the day God called you home.

For those of you who would like to express your sympathy or leave a treaured "Ronald" story, please sign the guestbook by clicking on the link below.

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	High Flight Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter silvered wings Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds……and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of….wheeled and soared and swung, high in the sunlit silence. Hovering there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long delirious, burning blue I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew. And while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod The high untrespassed sanctitiy of space Put out my hand, and touched the face of God. James Gillespie Magee, Jr. was killed In action a week after he sent this to his parents. Ronald kept this poem on his bedroom wall. (Robert Bloch, 832nd) Near sixty years since World War II, The warriors that much older grew. Lads then eighteen, with peach-fuzz cheek Now pause and think before they speak Of good and true and trusted friends, Ones who stood tall when life depends. So many now fall by the way; Unsung, their deeds of yesterday, Remembered well by those still here, Heroes, perhaps, of bygone year. The sound of Taps, that bugle call, Is reason not for tears at all. We all must make that one last flight; May your flight be smooth, may the flak be light. Ronald's Obituary Ronald E Bereman October 08, 1919 - January 09, 2003 Birthplace: Indianapolis, IN Resided In: Largo Florida USA Bereman, Ronald E., “Ron”, 83, of Largo, died Thursday, January 9th, 2003 at his home. He was born in Indianapolis, IN and came here in 2001 from Fort Myers. Locally, he was a member of First United Methodist Church in Largo. He was a WW II Air Force veteran where he retired as a Major. He was a pilot and flew 30 missions over Germany, two of those as the lead pilot. He was the recipient of the distinguished flying cross medal and the Air Force medal with oak leaf clusters. He was a member of the 486th Bomber Group whose remaining five members still hold annual reunions, and the 43D Pilot Group. After retiring from the Air Force, he was an Air Traffic Controller for more than 30 years, retiring as Tower Chief at the Hilo, Hawaii airport. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Frances; 3 sons, Ronald E., II of Boynton Beach, FL; Ernest L. of Ponca City, OK; Richard L. of Huffman, TX; 2 daughters, Shelley L. Bereman-Benevides of Hilo, HI; Pamela L. Norris of Kenneth City; 1 sister, Lenos Perry of Cloverdale, IN; 19 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes & Cremation Tribute Center-Largo Chapel. God looked around His garden and He found an empty place. He then looked down upon the earth and saw your tired face. He put His arms around you and lifted you to rest. God's garden must be beautiful-He always takes the best. He saw the roads were getting rough and the hills too hard to climb. So He closed your weary eyelids and whispered "Peace be thine." It broke my heart to lose you, but you did not go alone. For part of me went with you, the day God called you home. For those of you who would like to express your sympathy or leave a treaured "Ronald" story, please sign the guestbook by clicking on the link below. Site Index "Taps" This site designed and maintained by UP ALL NIGHT Web Page Design. © 2003 All rights reserved.