It was a sunny day that summer in 1969. I remember it well, there was a cool breeze blowing that late afternoon while Cicadas churned a loud melodic hum all around me. The dirt under me had felt cool, and it was receptive to me as I played on the ground with my toy soldiers.

Birds had been my companions that day, each chirping their distinctive song all around me. I remember still how the leaves of the trees in my front yard had swayed one way and then another to the rhythm of the comforting breeze at that hour. As I recall, everything about that afternoon had seemed peaceful. It was a perfect day for a child to be playing outdoors.

While I played with my toy soldiers - and as the Americans were about to over-run the Germans - my concentration was abruptly broken by a familiar voice calling out my name. I looked up to see a familiar face riding a familiar animal: it was my next door friend Luis riding his faithful pony.

Luis was a handsome boy with a charming smile. He had a way about him which won people over. My mother loved him. He was a quiet boy whose eyes reflected a gentle soul within. I think he cared for people very much and people, including my mother, loved and cared for him just as much.

As Luis had done so many times before, he asked if I wanted to ride with him to the store on his pony. I loved riding with him on that animal. He didn't have to ask twice. I ran inside the house and asked my mother if I could go with Luis to the store. My mother walked to the door and saw Luis outside sitting on his pony.

Mother said hello to Luis and he returned the gesture. I still remember that great big magnetic smile on his face when he saw my mother (Their was a genuine liking between Luis and my mother.) He asked my mother if she needed anything from the store as he was headed that way, anyway. This was something he had done many times before. Thanking him, my mother declined the offer and apologized to him for not allowing me to ride with him to the store on this day.

"I'll be back in a little bit, Roman," Luis said to me before riding off to the store. "I'll bring you a bubble gum. Okay?"

I watched him as he strolled away on his pony. Then I went back to playing with my toy soldiers. The last time I saw him, Luis was rounding the corner by my house. The small convenience store was less than a block and a half away.

That was the last time I saw Luis alive. Within minutes I heard the brakes of a

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