The stories of Raye and Roy are the stories of America

My friend invited my wife and me to celebrate her husband’s 70th birthday. We enjoyed an evening of great food and wine, stories of the past and hopes for the future. The stories of the past were such powerful American anecdotes that we all thought that my friends should write up their family histories. But they are too busy or modest for that. So I am taking a stab.

This couple represents the backbone of America. Roy is a retired fire fighter. Raye is a family practice physician.

oy graduated from high school in Detroit and signed up for the army. He spent his military years in Korea, came back to Washington state, and stayed. He graduated from Western Washington University, tutored for a while, and then found his niche in firefighting.