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Andy Duong
4 December 2012
English Honors II
Ms. Lammers

A Moral Obligation
Remember the best of those who have passed. Those who have left us
must not go in vain; they must be remembered for everything good they had
done in the past: memories, morals; these must not go forgotten when one exits
this world. Not only can I say that I have remembered a great man for the many,
incredible memories, but I have carried on his legacy through his teachings and
his great influence on me. This was a man with a heart of gold, a laugh that could
light up a room, a man with a personality as sweet as candy. This was a brave
man, a man who traveled by boat and escaped the terrors of the Vietnam War,
while getting airplane tickets for his family to escape the battleground ahead of
time. This man, who put his family, his loved ones first over anything, was my
grandpa, my Gong Gong. Although I was just 7 when he passed, his incredible
influence on my life causes me to think of him everyday.
As a young six year old, I did not have many friends, for I had not attended
school yet; as a result, I was extremely attached to my loving family. However my
moms father, my grandfather, was one of the most incredible people I had ever
met. When we were first introduced, we had a certain connection. As I talked to
him, his constant chatter lit up the room with an amiable atmosphere, with
constant joking and laughter. From our first meeting, we became incredibly close
and I instantly trusted him with everything, from my everyday school day to my
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fears and dreams. The more I saw him, the more I longed to talk to him more and
more.
As I continued to see him often, he began to teach me different things,
including small, fun things such as games, but also important things, such as
morals, and obligations. By far his most important message to me was, always
put your loved ones first. Hed tell me incredible stories about his time in
Vietnam; however, the one I found most incredible was his retelling of his escape
from the war-ravaged country. As the communists closed in on Saigon, he said,
they needed to escape the country. Using the last of his income, made by
managing a hair salon, he was able to secure a plane trip for his wife and their
three children, which included my mother. He, however, had to stay behind, as
he couldnt afford five. Weeks after my mom and the rest of his family left, he
risked his life in escaping Vietnam in the riskiest way possible: through boat. For
multiple weeks, he didnt wonder whether he would live or not, but if he would be
able to see his family once more. When he finally made it to the United States,
Gong Gong and his family rejoiced. He had made the nearly impossible journey
across. My jaw dropped when he first told his story, as I developed a newfound
respect for my grandfather. I was shocked that he was that daring, but most
importantly, I learned that in any circumstance, I needed to put my loved ones
over myself.
A year later, horrible news came. My Gong Gong had been diagnosed
with cancer, a vicious strain of colon cancer that kills quickly, like a cheetah
killing its prey. Although he began to look terrible, as run-down as a rag doll, he
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never wavered in his demeanor. Never. He always was happy, and always had
that same laugh, the one that made everyone smile.
Throughout the years of his diagnosis, however, his condition The last
time I went to visit him in the hospital though; I was in complete and utter shock.
There was my Gong Gong, my Gong Gong, lying on the bed, as fragile as a
baby. He was gaunt, and looked as though he had not eaten in days. He was a
dying man. I was shocked. How could a man, as great as a saint, with a heart
made of gold, deserve to die? I felt my heart dying and my soul was crushed, for
this was the man that I loved so dearly, that taught me everything I knew.
Suddenly, though, Gong Gong awoke, and saw me, about to cry. Unexpectedly,
he flashed me the tiniest of grins, but a grin nonetheless. I realized that although
he was only 67 years old, he had lived those 67 years doing what he thought was
most important. He fought for his familys safety, and loved them to the death. As
I realized the Gong Gong was content with passing now, I felt the first tear slide
down my check, in a strange combination of despair, happiness and relief. God
takes the best of us young. That was never truer than with my Gong Gong. On
March 6
th
, 2001, he passed away in his sleep. At his funeral, I reflected on all the
lessons he had told me during his life. I vowed not to let his death be in vain, not
to waste a saints life. I decided that I needed to live for everything Gong Gong
stood for. From that day on, I always put my loved ones first, and never took
anyone for granted, for they may not be there the next day, my just like Gong
Gong. Even to this day, my primary moral obligation is to put my loved ones
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ahead of myself. Ive learned that it is necessary to put those you love ahead of
you, because everything will be OK if those loved ones are by your side.