A Day of Remembrance and a Message of Hope 2.6.2006 and 2.6.2025

It’s hard for me to believe that it has been almost 20 years since our family lost a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, a cousin, a loyal friend – Kyle Robert Forrey – to melanoma cancer. He was just 26 years old. He passed away on the birthday anniversary of one of his favorite musical artists, Bob Marley. Kyle’s best companion was his German Shepard dog whom he named Marley, in honor of the legendary reggae musician.

When Kyle passed away, his best friends created a play list of songs and artists that meant something to him. They made CD copies of the play list and distributed it to us as a remembrance of Kyle. Each February 6, I play that song list – Tribute to Ale – as they called it. I’m forever grateful to them for this precious musical gift. The play list is an eclectic mix of genres and includes tunes from The Beatles; Bob Dylan; Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; Buffalo Springfield; Tom Petty; The Allman Brothers; The Band; the Grateful Dead; Bob Marley and the Wailers; Badfinger; Sly and the Family Stone; and Creedence Clearwater Revival.

On Kyle’s headstone the word’s – One Love – are engraved beneath a photograph of him and his beloved Marley. It conveys the special relationship he had with his four-legged companion. It’s also the title of a well-known Bob Marley tune. The song was written by Bob Marley during a time of political upheaval in his home state of Jamaica. His message was clear – a call for unity, hope and compassion – in a time of tremendous turmoil.

As I struggle to comprehend what is happening in our country and the political crisis we are facing, it’s hard for me to remain optimistic about the future of our democracy. Remembering Kyle on this day brought me to revisiting the lyrics of “One Love”. Here’s to you Kyle – we miss you – and to all of mankind, may we come to our senses.

“One Love! One Heart!
Let’s get together and feel all right.
Hear the children cryin’ (One Love!);
Hear the children cryin’ (One Heart!),
Sayin’: give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right;
Sayin’: let’s get together and feel all right. Wo wo-wo wo-wo!

Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (One Love!);
There is one question I’d really love to ask (One Heart!):
Is there a place for the hopeless sinner,
Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own beliefs?

One Love! What about the one heart? One Heart!
What about -? Let’s get together and feel all right
As it was in the beginning (One Love!);
So shall it be in the end (One Heart!),
All right!
Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right;
Let’s get together and feel all right.
One more thing!

Let’s get together to fight this Holy Armagiddyon (One Love!),
So when the Man comes there will be no, no doom (One Song!).
Have pity on those whose chances grows t’inner;
There ain’t no hiding place from the Father of Creation.

Sayin’: One Love! What about the One Heart? (One Heart!)
What about the -? Let’s get together and feel all right.
I’m pleadin’ to mankind! (One Love!);
Oh, Lord! (One Heart) Wo-ooh!

Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right;
Let’s get together and feel all right.
Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right;
Let’s get together and feel all right.”

~Bob Marley