For those DU'ers who did not make it to see these days, We salute you.

[The Straight Story]

As we celebrate we won't forget you.

Would that we could read your posts this day and see the smile on your face as you celebrate with us.

Rest well my friends, we will carry on for you and carry your memories with us as we forge ahead to keep the dream of a better country and a better world alive.

[cynatnite]

1. Andy Stephenson comes to mind...

I didn't know him, but given all the wonderful things said about him...I couldn't imagine anyone who deserved to see this day more.

[Dennis Donovan]

2. Khephra...

:(

[madrchsod]

6. ya...i could`t sell his name....

he died at his computer....

[Stephanie]

15. A toast to Andy!

His work certainly contributed to the fact they didn't have the nerve to steal it this time. We love you Andy!

:toast:

[Stephanie]

16. oops dupe

[hlthe2b]

34. Andy, Khephra, Nostamj, Monkeyman, so many others...

I will be toasting you all. You are with us in this day!

[kentuck]

65. And my Brother, Orville...

Who passed away this past August. He was a moderator several times for DU. His DU name was jarab.

[hlthe2b]

73. My synpathies, Kenuck.... I raise a glass to Orville, (aka jarab)

A special day to feel their spirits intertwine with ours.

[hlthe2b]

74. Make that Kentuck... I don't type well on a blackberry!

But, I thought of all our departed ones throughout today. We miss you departed DUers--more than you know.

[madrchsod]

3. maybe they are smiling today.....

[The Straight Story]

71. I am sure they are smiling right now!

How can one not be :)

[EFerrari]

4. Our dear Sapphire Blue.

[cynatnite]

8. Oh, yes...

Sapphire Blue :cry:

[smokey nj]

37. To Sapphire Blue

:toast:

[EFerrari]

60. An amazing lady sorely missed.

:toast:

[rurallib]

5. What was the name of the fellow that worked so hard on voting?

Andy Stephenson or something like that? I was just new here and was so sorry to hear of his battle with cancer. He worked extremely hard to out those who screwed our system.

[Joanne98]

7. Oh God. I wish they were here! K&R

[NanceGreggs]

9. MonkeyMan ...

:patriot:

[The_Casual_Observer]

17. MonkeyFunk?

[EFerrari]

20. MonkeyFunk is just gone from DU.

[NanceGreggs]

22. No, MonkeyMan n/t

[Catshrink]

10. nostamj

Remember his W Revue?

And Andy...

[havocmom]

29. thanks for remembering nostamj too

So many good people who did not get to complete this leg of the journey... :cry:

[Stephanie]

30. He was Jeff

And he was a kind soul.

[Catshrink]

47. Yep.

I remember fondly our Saturday Guy James show threads with Jeff being so active and insightful. I miss Guy James...

[Kip Humphrey]

51. Andy. His eyes are smiling. ...and, though not a DUer, Rev. Bill Moss.

[EFerrari]

11. Monkeyman.

:grouphug:

[w8liftinglady]

19. Monkeyman helped me when my son came back with PTSD

he was a wonderful friend.

[lonestarnot]

26. Loved that monkeyman!

:grouphug:

[bridgit]

38. I miss Monkeyman allot, he was very kind to me...

I recall mentioning to him my brother, a pilot never returned over Vietnam; he said he wished my brother would have been in his platoon and that he, Monkeyman, even while still being all messed up about it; he'd have made sure my brother came home with the rest of his men...I miss Monkeyman allot :cry:

[EFerrari]

62. Monkeyman was a kind soul and I miss his posts very much.

:hug:
:grouphug:

[Olney Blue]

72. I miss Monkeyman

[madrchsod]

12. i remember one of our older folks died and his republican son

wrote a very touching post about his dad.....it seems so long ago.

[Skittles]

44. junkdrawer?

:cry:

[Horse with no Name]

59. junkdrawer died? OMG!

:cry:

[JitterbugPerfume]

76. It was the origional Junkdrawer I believe

If memory serves, his grandson took his name

[madrchsod]

63. i`m not sure...

[Kipper58]

75. I think that fine gentleman's DU name was "all junk mail"

His son wrote a very touching "thank you" post after his dad passed away. It was a particularly poignant thread, as I recall.

[midnight]

13. What a thoughtful reminder of how many here at D.U. have

contributed to our cause for better representation, but have passed on. It was because of Andy Stevens that I found a place that made me not think I was alone. Many have had experiences of a country's treasury being robbed. A system of laws eroded. And a silence that left one to think-"Were is everybody" Helen Thomas.

[UrbScotty]

14. I'm thinking of Birdman, playahata1, and oneighty.

Birdman (Mike McArdle) was a very prolific writer in the early days of DU.

[JitterbugPerfume]

18. Oneighty

you would have loved this!

[EFerrari]

21. Yes!

:)

[Jack Rabbit]

23. ( )

Pebbelz.com

[ColbertWatcher]

24. Good thread. k+r, n/t

[eShirl]

25. .

[robinlynne]

27. Thank-you for this OP.

[bigwillq]

28. ....

Gone but not forgotten. :( :cry:

[Cha]

31. A tribute to Andy, Khephra, Nostami,

and all those who were on DU and fighting the good fight with creativity and dedication:fistbump:

[UpInArms]

33. and althought he wasn't a DUer, I think that George Carlin

fits right in with all of these DU greats.

To all of those that fought the good fight

:toast:

We will keep on keepin' on - in your names and in ours.

[Batgirl]

32. I've also found myself thinking lately of those who passed on before the election.

Many departed during that time Bush's public approval ratings were still sky high. When the MSM's most important function was to promote him, not just as a war hero but as a deity figure, and too many people were buying into it. To me, that was the most demoralizing aspect -- that only a few people seemed to be seeing through the charade and screaming about it. Many of the departed ones were real activists who never gave up, even though we were struggling through a nightmarish period where it was unimaginable that Bush would someday become a disgraced failure and national joke. They're in my thoughts, along with all of those who lived during the worst of this era but weren't here to see the country kick these assholes to the curb.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

35. Didn't we lose Freddy57, too?

:-(

[roguevalley]

36. Alan and Dorothy Bishop, my heroes. I know they are deliriously happy right

now and dancing in heaven. I hope they have a DU meet up in heaven. :)

[Starry Messenger]

39. k & r.

[malaise]

40. Thoughful thread

A toast to all of them. :toast:

[eridani]

41. An In Memoriam forum has been proposed every now and then

I second that emotion.

[salin]

42. also playahata and junkmail

a toast to all!

I periodically drive by a park in Broadripple (in Indianapolis) and think of Kephra - he organized a get together there - I think it was in 2002 (maybe 2003) - I think that he (and all others mentioned) would relish tomorrow.

[Skittles]

43. thinking of you, oneighty

my dear sweet Ed :cry:

[Generic Other]

45. remember the older lady who called Bush "whistleass"

her daughter posted to DU after her mom died.

Sorry, I have forgotten her name.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

46. I'm remembering my late mother-in-law tonight, as well as

hubby's late father, and hubby's step-dad who just passed the day after Christmas last year.

I know my late mother-in-law, in particular, would have just loved this. She passed in 2000 (in late Oct.).

[we can do it]

48. This Is for You Mum

I miss you- but know you've been watching

[AwakeAtLast]

49. I've thought of Khephra all day today

I never got to meet him, but he was a major poster in LBN for early DU.

Here's to Kheph! :toast:

[The Straight Story]

50. He kept me coming back to DU to read long before I was a member

They need the internet in heaven :)

[ribrepin]

58. In honor of Khephra

The fastest LBN poster in history. He was always right on top of stories. God rest, Khephra.

[bdamomma]

52. they will not be forgotten.

:patriot:

[tom_paine]

53. Lots to remember. Andy and Scott (kephra), monkeyman and so many others.

How many have passed away and their passing is just not noted becauseDu is a big place and a cyber-place, as well?

More than a few, I'll wager.

Good thread. This is most definitely a time to pause and reflect...

[Lydia Leftcoast]

54. I wonder what happened to Pocho, an older man who had retired to Mexico

He mentioned having health problems.

[DeepModem Mom]

55. In our hearts. K&R

[Lucinda]

56. Great thread! Thank you!

My first though was Andy....and then Maddie...

[Octafish]

57. Many good DUers to remember.

Thank you for this thread and thank you for what you said, The Straight Story.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

61. Amen

and well said, TSS.

[The Straight Story]

64. Kick for the day crew (nt)

[Mnemosyne]

66. .

:toast::smoke::toast:

[Bozita]

67. Thinking of those folks today.

[juajen]

68. K & R

[blockhead]

69. to all of them!

:patriot:

[WilliamPitt]

70. Amen