We wish to thank everyone for the many expressions of sympathy and prayers for our family. On Thursday, October 12, 2000, aboard the USS Cole, God, the Master Planter harvested a life from our family; Lakiba. Lakiba finished her academic endeavors and turned her attention to the United States Navy. Lakiba met unfamiliar horizons while serving her country, but the greatness in service is that you submit to the awesome task of defending the free world and Lakiba was a young woman, facing the grand possibilities of that life. Everytime we look into a mirror, we can see a part of Lakiba in different gestures, which are common to our family. With so many faces to remind us, we have to realize she is gone, never to return to us. Words fail to express the terrible emptiness we feel, because Lakiba was a pearl on the road to becoming cultured, a diamond in the rough, realizing her true potential. It has been written in a lyric, "Let the work that I do speak for me." Lakiba's work is sending a loud echo. Because Lakiba died for her country, millions are comforted because she and her shipmates left the comfort of their shores to represent the United States of America. She is a heroine because she raised her right hand and vowed to protect the United States against enemies foreign and domestic. The greatest test or gift summarized in love is that one is willing to give all that one has for a friend, and Lakiba along with her friends/shipmates gave their love and lives for over 280 million living on this precious soil called America. Our Lakiba was one of the few women given an opportunity to venture to a far country for the best of reasons, to let the world know that "someone has the watch." Please understand that we are in no way diminishing the bravery exemplified by her shipmates, we honor them and recognize that their families are sharing our grief as well. God has blessed America with some great young people, because they have proven that valor is common in the hearts of Americans; and, God decided that one of them should be our daughter, granddaughter, mother, wife, sister, niece, cousin, and friend. We pray that all of the families accept God's will...as we have. Thank You The Family of Lakiba Nicole Palmer Keep My Memory Keep my memory with you, For memories never die; I will be there with you, When you look across the sky. I will be there in the clouds, In the birds that fill the air; In the beauty of a fragrant rose, You will find my memory there. You will feel me in the tenderness, Of a tiny baby's touch; You will hear me if you listen, In the twilight's gentle hush. When your hearts are heavy, And you feel that you are alone; Just reach down deep inside of you, For your heart is now my home. I will always be with you, I will never go away; For I will live on in your hearts, Forever and a day. Allison Chambers Coxsey c1996 View My Guestbook Sign My Guestbook