Allan and Peggy Boos fostered and volunteered for DAR&E for several years and were our resident experts on fostering dogs being treated for heartworm. Many of us remember both of them from their involvement at DAR&E's picnics and events, and their love of the breed.
In Grateful Remembrance of our beloved
CW2 Harold Allan Boos
(U.S. Army Retired)
Born 16 August 1956
Died 5 July 2004
Our Allan Boos was born in Salina, Kansas. He graduated from Gilroy High School in 1974 and joined the U.S. Army. He served honorably for twenty years - first as a Military Police professional both as an enlisted man and then as a Warrant Officer. He further served our great nation as a Supply Technician and as such, while serving with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), earned his Bronze Star Medal for exemplary performance in Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. From 1994 through 2004, Allan held important logistician and security positions; the last he adored - as a Sergeant in Security on contract with the State Department.
He continued his education at night and on weekends, recently earning his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology from the University of Maryland in May 2004.
He is survived by his loving wife Peggy; his children Jermy and Jillian; his parents: Marcie and Glenn Goodwin and Harold and Jean Boos; his sister Carol Estep, his brother Bobby Gooddwin and step sisters: Sharon Haber and Terri O'Brien and many, many family and friends. We love you sir - Mind, Body and Soul.
My Dearest Friends and Family,
As you might imagine, this letter is very difficult for me to write. How does one put into words those feelings of gratitude and thanks? My Allan would be so proud to know the kindness and love that you have bestowed onto me and his family these past days and months following his untimely death.
Many of you might be wondering why it has taken so long for me to thank you. From the inner-most depths of my soul, I cannot express the sadness and loneliness I have come to know since losing my beloved Allan. The gracious compassion thrust on his many friends and family at such a difficult period in time has renewed my faith in God and the goodness of human beings.
As I sit here in our dream home, I feel his presence. I know that Allan is, along with all his Angels, looking down from the heavens upon us – forever grateful for all your attempts at soothing my pain and sorrow.
Allan is at peace. He no longer suffers. He no longer wonders how he can make my cancer go away. He wonders not about how he can fix things for you or me. He is forever in our hearts. Not a second, a day, week or month goes by that he is not a part of. I still hear his lovely voice, his laugh. I still see his smile, a grin from ear to ear. He was always the optimist. He saw the good in even the hardest of situations. He saw light on the darkest of days. It is from his strength that I borrow.
I wonder sometimes what we would be doing had he not passed. Would we be on the golf course, he teaching me how to play his favorite game? Would we be in Mexico trying on those silly sombreros laughing at each other? Oh, the many thoughts I have.
Well, for those of you who could not make the journey here, the memorial services on July 16, 2004 were first rate. We were very fortunate to be the recipients of the gracious and compassionate offerings made by so many here in Pharr. From Father Garcia of St. Margaret Mary’s Church, the American Legionnaires from Post 101 who provided the Military Honors Ceremony, the staff – especially Martha Goldsberry of the Plantation Club House and the Pharr Police department for providing not only our escort from the Parish to Plantation but for also transporting some of the many flowers you sent on Allan’s behalf.
How do I truly thank you for all your prayers, calls, emails and cards? Perhaps just knowing that without you, I could not have made it through the most tragic time in my life. Even the Breast Cancer is insignificant to losing the man of my dreams, my soul mate, and my best friend. A very large part of me died with Allan. So many regrets I have. So many things I wish to share with him.
So, I grieve - yet I also give thanks. I am so fortunate to have met and married Harold Allan Boos. Our love grew in the desert sands of Saudi Arabia a mere fourteen years ago. I still have all of the love letters that Allan wrote to me. They are the foundation of our beginning and the mortar that holds me together now. Yes, Allan was my rock. His words are forever carved on my soul. They comfort me now. A poem he wrote for us entitled, “A Love in the Sand” has recently been found among our many material possessions. Priceless they are to me. It gives me the strength I need to go on.
We must celebrate our lives; enriched by knowing Allan. It is said that we are put on this earth to witness the lives of others. It is my hope that I served well as Allan’s witness. It is my testament that I will continue to preserve his memory and the many good things he was to us all.
As 2004 comes to an end, I wish to thank so many - but especially…
*To Jay Marlowe, Allan’s best friend from Gilroy, California. He did not hesitate to hop on a plane, along with his mother Pat to be here for the memorial.
*And a special thanks to George and Alice Edwards…our friends since Fort Campbell days. Alice was kind enough to give us George, who so valiantly provided morale and emotional support to me that entire week and since…
*To Sister Mary Augustine, Allan’s favorite and closest Aunt for providing the most precious poem she wrote about Allan and shared it with all who gathered…
*To Jeremy and Jillian, Allan’s children who were there for me in our time of need (never have we been closer)…
*To Carol, Bobby and Sharon – three of Allan’s siblings who helped dry my tears…
*A very special thanks to my in-laws who assure me, that I will always be a part of their family…
*To Jean Mullis and her soul mate Brian, our neighbors in Maryland who found Allan and gave me a place to stay when I had to return to finish packing our things…
*To Kathy O’Connell for being a great friend and there for everything I asked help on…
*To all at the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office, my former employer and fellow employees who were more than co-workers, you were and still are my extended family…
*Allan’s co-workers at the State Department who held a special tribute breakfast, honoring Allan and sent a monetary gift they collected for me…
Lastly, but most especially my mother, Charlotte Chounard, who moved in with us in Maryland back in April, to be there during my surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, my move to Texas in June and the permanent shoulder to cry on since Allan died.
By no means have I captured all of you by name, for that please forgive me.
I love you all.
Hugs, Peggy
I pray that 2005 brings all of us understanding, love and compassion.
I leave you with a copy of the memorial card and a prayer to remember Allan;
he would want you to have this.
In Loving Memory Of
Harold Allan Boos
August 16, 1956
July 5, 2004
Memorial Service at Plantation
Military Honors Ceremony provided by American Legion
Post 101 at Plantation, Pharr, Texas, July 16, 204
I'm following the path God laid for me...
I took His hand when I heard him call
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day
to laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
I found that peace at the close of day.
If parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss.
And yet these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow.
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much-
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me.
God wanted me now, He set me free.
Back Row: Carol Estep, Peggy Boos and Bobby Goodwin
Front Row: Jillian and Jeromy Boos
Front Cover: The Plantation Clubhouse American Flag flew at half-
mast for Allan an entire week. Allan is pictured in his State Depart-
ment Security uniform.