My Papa – The Man, The Myth And The Legend Of Our Family

My Papa was born in 1921 in wyandotte michigan. His full name is Kenneth James Brighton. He grew up on a farm with his parents Bessie and Loren, and his brothers Loren Jr and Robert. Ken was raised to be a kind and caring man. His smile lights up any room. This is the story of my papa. Papa was part of something known as the greatest generation, because his generation answered when they got the call to serve and protect their country. He answered that call with pride, strength, and dignity.

When Ken was in his early twenties he the made the life changing decision to join the United States navy and serve his country. He was classified. The carpenter on the USS Muliphen. He saw the most historic moment in the world, he saw the flag being raised in iwo jima. He told me he never forgot that moment. The moment he came up to the top deck of the boat and through the fog and haze he saw the American flag. I couldn't be prouder to call my papa a veteran, a soldier, and a hero.

My papa was a carpenter at Greenfield village for 35 years. He fixed antiques and was a cabinet maker. Some of the antiques he fixed included dollhouses. I heard a very interesting story from my papa about his time spend at Greenfield village. One day he was working on a dollhouse for a historic house kids bedroom. He was working on the inside accessories, some of these included the dolls bed and chair. Henry ford was alive at this time and would visit the village. On that particular day Mr. Ford went into the house where my papa was and asked him what he was working on. My papa told Mr. Ford he was just finishing a bed for the doll house. Mr. Ford looked at the tiny bed, then looked at my papa and said Ken that is really nice, but redo it please. My papa was very shocked by Mr. Ford's comment.If you were to ask anybody in my family.

Everyone would say the same thing. They would say he is a kind and caring man who loved carpentry, ice cream, his grandchildren,and his wife valerie who he sadly lost at the age of 80. They would say that my papa is a gentle man with a beautiful heart. A humorous and caring man. A strong and understanding man. a good advice giver and great listener, And a talented man with a beautiful soul. My family couldn't be more thankful to have such a wonderful man in our lives.

My papa to me was a man I looked up to. He was a huge tigers fan, very crafty, very loving, caring, funny, lighted hearted man. He always looked on the bright side of things. I like to think i was his favorite grandchild. After all i am the youngest grandchild. Papa is the most honest person you will ever meet. If he didnt like something I did he wouldn't hold back he would let me know how he felt about a situation. He was an avid wii bowler with an average score of 230 points. My papa is the man the myth and the legend of our family.I truly enjoyed the last four years of my papa’s life because he moved to Fenton Michigan. He moved to Lockwood Senior living across from VG’S grocery store. I was the grandchild he spent the most time with in those last four years. He was moved to a group home when his health was getting worse. He never forgot who I was because I was the grandkid always in his fridge. I nicknamed my self the fridge-raider.

In October of 2015 I saw my papa fade away. That was the hardest thing I went through that year. On October 25th 2015 my Aunt Kate and Uncle Tom were with my papa in his group home. They called my Mom to hurry up because my Papa did not have a long time left. Right as my mom got out of the car at the group home she got another call from my Uncle Tom. My papa had taken his last breath before she got into the house. I remember my Dad saying Nicole your Papa has just passed away. After his memorial service and to this very day I reflect on how he affected everyone he met. I realized that even though Papa might not physically be here with us, he lives in each of us and in everyone who knew him.