FOCUS
He sits alone
He lives aloft
The wind blows gently over his body
Asking why
The sun gives him life as its rays illuminate his strong features
He asks why
As his body is upright and strong his mind relaxed and focused
Why...
The gentle wind dies giving way to silence
The answer unfolds before him as it is presented by the sun
"You are an alien... a foreign ambassador"
His eyes close and his heart opens
"You are to lead"
His mind awakes and presents difficulty and doubts
"You are given the potential and the steps are falling into place...faith"
Reality tells him he is dreaming
"You will wait and pray and the prize will be given to you"
His eyes open and the northern breeze begins to flow over him
Again, it whispers,"Why?"
He answers aloud
"I am chosen - set aside - for all to look upon...to sustain the righteous and give hope to the hearts of the weary"
The sun sends its rays upon him again
"You are mine, without me you are nothing"
His heart swells with gratitude and pride
His chest expands, head held high toward the sun
Countless eyes notice him now as he sits on the pinnacle
He becomes conscious of their relentless observation
He does not look down to meet the eyes of the many, but stares - focused ahead on infinity
Infinity slowly opens to reveal the calm face of the Son...his goal, his hope, his life
His eyes open wide, yet the world fades out into empty nothingness
All is still and silent - all is gone, leave the face of life
All points of infinity are focused as they bow to the Almighty.
Joe Houston 6/21/97
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Updated info for Joe Houston Memorial Trust
The Joe Houston Memorial Trust is proud to announce that we went live with the new website last night. www.joehoustonmemorial.com and is accepting online donations. If you would like to help those Joe left behind, you can do so in three different ways:
Joe's companymates are pulling some money together to be sure Asher has a good Christmas this year. Dubbed "Operation Santa", we are collecting funds separate from the trust to be sure Asher is not forgotten this Christmas. Additionally, funds will be used to help defray the cost of Joe's funeral arrangements, to include costs for the funeral, reception, and airfare for the family during this difficult time. Donations to this can be made through the website.
Second, you can donate to the Joe Houston Memorial Trust. This is a trust set up to benefit Joe's son, Asher. All proceeds will be given to Asher as he gets older. It is being run by his company-mates.
If you feel more comfortable sending in a check via snail mail, you are more than welcome to do so. Please send all checks to:
Timothy C. Parlatore, Esq.
Associate
Law Offices of Eric Franz, PLLC
747 Third Avenue
20th Floor
New York, NY 10017
(212) 355-2200
(212) 937-2217 Fax
(732) 904-6391 Cell
Finally, you can donate to the "Remember the Rangers" site. You can donate at www.remembertherangers.com. This trust is equally split between Joe and his co-pilot, LT Bret Miller, and their 3 (between the two of them) children. There, you can also purchase patches specifically dedicated to Joe and Bret. All of those proceeds will go toward the two families as well.
Thank you,
Tim Parlatore
Legal Advisor
Joe Houston Memorial Trust
Joe's companymates are pulling some money together to be sure Asher has a good Christmas this year. Dubbed "Operation Santa", we are collecting funds separate from the trust to be sure Asher is not forgotten this Christmas. Additionally, funds will be used to help defray the cost of Joe's funeral arrangements, to include costs for the funeral, reception, and airfare for the family during this difficult time. Donations to this can be made through the website.
Second, you can donate to the Joe Houston Memorial Trust. This is a trust set up to benefit Joe's son, Asher. All proceeds will be given to Asher as he gets older. It is being run by his company-mates.
If you feel more comfortable sending in a check via snail mail, you are more than welcome to do so. Please send all checks to:
Timothy C. Parlatore, Esq.
Associate
Law Offices of Eric Franz, PLLC
747 Third Avenue
20th Floor
New York, NY 10017
(212) 355-2200
(212) 937-2217 Fax
(732) 904-6391 Cell
Finally, you can donate to the "Remember the Rangers" site. You can donate at www.remembertherangers.com. This trust is equally split between Joe and his co-pilot, LT Bret Miller, and their 3 (between the two of them) children. There, you can also purchase patches specifically dedicated to Joe and Bret. All of those proceeds will go toward the two families as well.
Thank you,
Tim Parlatore
Legal Advisor
Joe Houston Memorial Trust
A letter of thanks from the Houston's
Dear Friends,
How can we ever express our gratitude to all of you who so generously donated your time, resources, equipment, expertise, funds and sweat equity in the search for our son, Joe. We have never experienced such an outpouring of love and support. We were completely overwhelmed with the magnitude of the search experience and seeing so many people come together in unity for a cause greater than themselves. You became family - our family! You are truly appreciated. Thank you to each and every one of you who had a part in any way.
In admiration and respect,
John and Glyndell Houston
How can we ever express our gratitude to all of you who so generously donated your time, resources, equipment, expertise, funds and sweat equity in the search for our son, Joe. We have never experienced such an outpouring of love and support. We were completely overwhelmed with the magnitude of the search experience and seeing so many people come together in unity for a cause greater than themselves. You became family - our family! You are truly appreciated. Thank you to each and every one of you who had a part in any way.
In admiration and respect,
John and Glyndell Houston
Friday, November 20, 2009
Joe Houston Memorial Trust
The family has asked all donations be made to the following trust:
The Joe Houston Memorial Trust has been established in loving memory of Lieutenant John J. "Joe" Houston, US Navy, by his close friends and company mates from the 2nd Company, United States Naval Academy , Class of 2002. The expressed purpose is two-fold: First, to provide a solid financial foundation for Joe's son Asher. Secondly, we as a company, as Joe's band of brothers, pledge our steadfast support to the Houston family and to Asher, and to provide a safe haven, financially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually as long as we live. We welcome Asher into our family. We welcome Asher to 2nd Company.
We will soon have a website for the Trust set up, which will accept online donations and will feature photos, videos, and memories of our friend, Joe. When it is up and running, we will disseminate that information. We are still working out many of the finer details, but have received an overwhelming response from people who wish to contribute. We are now accepting donations by check, payable to “Joe Houston Memorial Trust” Mail all donations to the attention of Timothy Parlatore at 747 Third Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10017.
If anyone has any questions, feel free to contact Dan Hancock at front_sight_focus@yahoo.com or Tim Parlatore at timothy@efranzlaw.com
Timothy C. Parlatore, Esq.
Associate
Law Offices of Eric Franz, PLLC
747 Third Avenue
20th Floor
New York, NY 10017
(212) 355-2200
(212) 937-2217 Fax
(732) 904-6391 Cell
www.efranzlaw.com
The Joe Houston Memorial Trust has been established in loving memory of Lieutenant John J. "Joe" Houston, US Navy, by his close friends and company mates from the 2nd Company, United States Naval Academy , Class of 2002. The expressed purpose is two-fold: First, to provide a solid financial foundation for Joe's son Asher. Secondly, we as a company, as Joe's band of brothers, pledge our steadfast support to the Houston family and to Asher, and to provide a safe haven, financially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually as long as we live. We welcome Asher into our family. We welcome Asher to 2nd Company.
We will soon have a website for the Trust set up, which will accept online donations and will feature photos, videos, and memories of our friend, Joe. When it is up and running, we will disseminate that information. We are still working out many of the finer details, but have received an overwhelming response from people who wish to contribute. We are now accepting donations by check, payable to “Joe Houston Memorial Trust” Mail all donations to the attention of Timothy Parlatore at 747 Third Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10017.
If anyone has any questions, feel free to contact Dan Hancock at front_sight_focus@yahoo.com or Tim Parlatore at timothy@efranzlaw.com
Timothy C. Parlatore, Esq.
Associate
Law Offices of Eric Franz, PLLC
747 Third Avenue
20th Floor
New York, NY 10017
(212) 355-2200
(212) 937-2217 Fax
(732) 904-6391 Cell
www.efranzlaw.com
Thursday, November 19, 2009
A Storybook for Asher
Hello friends,
We are putting together a storybook for Joe's son, Asher, full of pictures and letters from you! We cannot thank you all enough for your continued support, encouragement, and love through all of this and we want Asher to know how much we love his dad!
If you would like to participate in this storybook process, please email a message to JourneyTree@gmail.com with your best memory of Joe or a letter of encouragement. We believe this will be a powerful tool for Asher to know his dad a little bit better.
Even if you knew Joe for a short while, send us a message! Even if you didn't know Joe, but participated in this great search for our beloved friend, send us a message!
We really cannot thank you enough. The Lord has truly been with us through all of this and we praise God for the memory he blesses us with so we can continue to remember Joe and the incredible father that he was.
Again, send messages to
JourneyTree@gmail.com
Thanks again!
We are putting together a storybook for Joe's son, Asher, full of pictures and letters from you! We cannot thank you all enough for your continued support, encouragement, and love through all of this and we want Asher to know how much we love his dad!
If you would like to participate in this storybook process, please email a message to JourneyTree@gmail.com with your best memory of Joe or a letter of encouragement. We believe this will be a powerful tool for Asher to know his dad a little bit better.
Even if you knew Joe for a short while, send us a message! Even if you didn't know Joe, but participated in this great search for our beloved friend, send us a message!
We really cannot thank you enough. The Lord has truly been with us through all of this and we praise God for the memory he blesses us with so we can continue to remember Joe and the incredible father that he was.
Again, send messages to
JourneyTree@gmail.com
Thanks again!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Letter from Joe's mom, Glyndell
Precious Family and Friends,
This morning the divers located Joe's body inside the plane. At the time of the call there was positive identification of the aircraft, but not positive I.D. of the body, but there is no one else it can be. Divers will retrieve the body and take it for autopsy soon.
We are grateful to the Lord for lifting our uncertainty and giving us a definite answer. We are thankful to know that Joe has been in the presence of God and cared for these three long weeks. God is good and His mercies endure forever. Be comforted in knowing that Joe lived his life to the fullest for the Lord, and was a man after God's own heart. He laid down his life for his God and country. His life's message was "To God Be the Glory!" May God alone be glorified for everything that has transpired. Joe's life verse: Psalms 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." We treasure your continued prayers for our family.
There will be a Navy memorial service Friday, November 20, 2009, at 12 noon at Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, TX.
In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations to an independent trust fund which is being established for Joe's son, Asher. Please contact Tim Parlatore for information on how to proceed.
Timothy C. Parlatore, Esq.
Associate
Law Offices of Eric Franz, PLLC
747 Third Avenue , 20th Floor
New York, NY 10017
(212) 355-2200
(212) 937-2217 Fax
(732) 904-6391 Cell
www.efranzlaw.com
Love,
Glyndell Houston
This morning the divers located Joe's body inside the plane. At the time of the call there was positive identification of the aircraft, but not positive I.D. of the body, but there is no one else it can be. Divers will retrieve the body and take it for autopsy soon.
We are grateful to the Lord for lifting our uncertainty and giving us a definite answer. We are thankful to know that Joe has been in the presence of God and cared for these three long weeks. God is good and His mercies endure forever. Be comforted in knowing that Joe lived his life to the fullest for the Lord, and was a man after God's own heart. He laid down his life for his God and country. His life's message was "To God Be the Glory!" May God alone be glorified for everything that has transpired. Joe's life verse: Psalms 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." We treasure your continued prayers for our family.
There will be a Navy memorial service Friday, November 20, 2009, at 12 noon at Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, TX.
In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations to an independent trust fund which is being established for Joe's son, Asher. Please contact Tim Parlatore for information on how to proceed.
Timothy C. Parlatore, Esq.
Associate
Law Offices of Eric Franz, PLLC
747 Third Avenue , 20th Floor
New York, NY 10017
(212) 355-2200
(212) 937-2217 Fax
(732) 904-6391 Cell
www.efranzlaw.com
Love,
Glyndell Houston
Joe has been found
The divers were able to go down today. The plane has been identified as Joe's. His body is in the cockpit and should be recovered today. It is a blessing to know where he is and that he has been with the Lord these past 3 weeks, not suffering. Please continue to pray for the Houston's, Jenn, and Joe's son.
The memorial and donation information is in a previous post. It will be this Friday, the 20th.
The memorial and donation information is in a previous post. It will be this Friday, the 20th.
