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In Memory of David Hall, 1951- 2011

I’m feeling, I think, only a small measure of the true loss to our country and the understandable sadness of a dear friend at the news of the death of Texan David Hall. Along with all of this, I’m feeling my own negligence in failing to introduce GiN’s readers to David and his family and encourage support of his efforts at an earlier date.

David’s death on Tuesday serves as stark reminder that life is all too short and we don’t have forever to honor the good works among us.

I’ve never met David, but I know of him through my dear friend Sandie, who in the last two years has kept me informed of David and his family’s work and, sadly, this year’s struggle against pancreatic cancer which ended his life. Sandie, I know, is suffering from understandable grief at the loss of such a friend and frequent colleague in many efforts over the last several decades to promote Constitutional governance and liberty. I know Sandie is engaging in much prayer, as she always does, and as David and family would desire, to speed David’s journey home and to wrap those he left behind in the Lord’s loving grace and peace.

While Sandie and David, along with others, engaged in many efforts throughout their long years of friendship, perhaps the most worthy and enduring will be the decision to obtain a full-size and fully-functional replica of the Liberty Bell in the late 90′s.

David and his family took charge of the Bell, investing a great deal of time, talent, and treasure in its restoration and placement on a flatbed trailer with large Ten Commandments tablets on either side. The Bell and its companion tablets traveled what now must total well over a million miles, for the simple, yet worthy purpose of honoring America’s fallen soldiers.

This 2007 news report serves as an ongoing tribute to David and his efforts:

While I’ve always found the video moving, I am particularly humbled and saddened to view it while reflecting on David’s sacrifice and true commitment to such a labor of love.

I ask all those willing to pray for David, his family, and his friends, like Sandie, as they celebrate his remarkable life and now mourn his loss. For those who are interested, much information about the Bell, its journeys, and David’s battle with illness this year can be found on the 01/18/2012. And for those who are willing and able, the family is accepting donations for the continued work of the Bell.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

(No Man Is An Island)

From Meditation XVII by John Donne, 1624

No man is an island,

Entire of itself.

Each is a piece of the continent,

A part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea,

Europe is the less.

As well as if a promontory were.

As well as if a manor of thine own

Or of thine friend’s were.

Each man’s death diminishes me,

For I am involved in mankind.

Therefore, send not to know

For whom the bell tolls,

It tolls for thee.

While Donne’s meditation is intended to convey that any loss of human life diminishes and the ringing of funeral bells serves as a reminder of our own mortality, it was not intended to evoke hopelessness. Donne’s body of work actually focused, instead, on life’s hopeful journey towards eternal salvation.

Considering all, perhaps it is not difficult to imagine the path of David’s next journey, already in progress, and the potential welcome that awaits.

For whom does the bell toll?

David, good and faithful servant, the Bell now tolls for thee.

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Featured photo from Facebook posting

David, Sandie, Kaye in Branson from Sandie’s Facebook profile

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