The Queen in silence is driving by

Uncover your heads, lift your hearts on high,

The Queen in silence is driving by.

----Ella Wilcox

A truly great and wonderful lady, Anne O'Neill, yesterday peacefully passed on, looking forward to meeting her Maker. Anne is the wife of my dear friend and comrade John O'Neill.

You may remember John from he bravely and with dignity leading the Swiftee campaign for truth in the 2004 election, which provided the margin to save us from John Kerry. I remember John from our first coming together in 1971, a couple of skinny recent Vietnam veterans.

Several months ago, Anne, John and I spent a wonderful evening together reminiscing, the photo above. I showed Anne several photos of my young sons, which she was so thrilled with she tried to slip them into her purse, so she could enjoy new life the more. That's the Anne all loved and admired.

Anne was the woman behind John's strength and decency. As John said to me tonight, "Anne thought people can be whatever they want to be, not just whatever happens to them." Anne suffered from Wegener's Disease for several decades, an immunological disease, when others would have succombed in several years. Her glorious spirit sustained her and all around her. Her death was two years to the day since John contributed his kidney to her and, then with her support and comfort, John rose up to lead us.

Anne was very proud that she had the chance to work with the best people she said she ever met in G-d's plan during the 2004 campaign. At the end she was surrounded by family, friends, and hospital workers all loving her strength and spirit. Anne's farewell: "I haven't been defeated. All I've done is move forward."

The graveside service on Wednesday will include the Naval Hymn, "Eternal Father," and "Scotland the Brave."

A mind at peace with all below,

A heart whose love is innocent.

----Lord Byron

Rest in peace Anne O’Neill