My wife, Gena, and my heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to the families and friends of the 149 victims on board Germanwings Flight 4U9525. Our hearts break with those around the world for this tragic and horrific mass murder brought on by the actions of the co-pilot. But in the midst of that catastrophe were also great human lives beaming with light and love – those who deserve our attention.
With so much news media coverage being given to the mental health of the co-pilot, I thought it was time – especially during a globally celebrated Holy Week – that we pivot the narrative to the positive contributions and lives of its passengers. During this sacred season, I'd like to redeem that dark French Alps tragedy by telling you about the three effervescent American passengers among the many precious souls aboard Flight 9525.
Robert Oliver Calvo, 38, was a U.S. citizen born in Barcelona, Spain, and a married father of two. Robert was a real-estate manager for the clothing company Desigual, based in Spain. His job territory covered German, Austrian and Swiss real estate, which is why he was headed to Dusseldorf on a business trip with a Spanish colleague, according to a company spokesperson and ABC News. Judging by his own Facebook photos, Robert looked like someone who loved his life, job and family.
His 73-year-old father, Robert Tansill Oliver, a retired schoolteacher from New York City who moved to Spain in 1966, has been understandably busy consoling his daughter-in-law and grandchildren. He also offered this encouraging word to all victims' families – and, indeed, all who suffered the sudden loss of loved ones – by saying we need to center our attention on the victims' lives and not their tragic ends.
Robert Sr. explained to Reuters: "All fathers and mothers, families who have lost a loved one, a son, a daughter, a loved one, to death, I'd encourage them to not focus on those last 10 minutes, the final crash. I'd like to encourage them to think about the wonderful years that they have enjoyed of life together, those wonderful moments, happy moments with the family, with friends, the name, their reputation, think about the good moments, the wonderful moments, and of course think about the future."
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A mother and daughter, Yvonne and Emily Selke, were the other two remarkable Americans on Flight 9525. Both of these ladies were very loved, popular and incredible human beings who were successes in their own right.
Yvonne, 58, was a long-term employee of U.S. government contractor Booz Allen Hamilton. She worked at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the satellite-mapping branch of the Pentagon. The Guardian reported that she "had a reputation as a dedicated and loyal staff member, but also a very friendly and generous one who brought cookies in for co-workers." Colleagues have repeatedly described her as "wonderful," even "to a fault."
Yvonne's daughter, Emily, was an honors student who graduated in 2013 from the distinguished Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design that is part of Drexel University in Philadelphia. It was her ultimate goal to obtain employment in event production in the entertainment industry.
The Guardian explained, "She was the vice president of membership for the sorority, wrote music review blog posts and had worked with the Pittsburgh Fringe Festival shortly before graduating in 2013."
The sisters from Emily's sorority, Gamma Sigma Sigma Zeta, pointed out on their Facebook pages that she was "wonderful" and well known for always "putting others before herself."
Perhaps, one friend summarized Emily's character best when she wrote on her Facebook page, "You are a beautiful soul, so down to earth and interesting, and bright, and just all around one cool chick."
Emily and Yvonne are survived by their husband and father, Raymond Selke. Together, they lived on the outskirts of Nokesville, Virginia, in bucolic farming country between Washington, D.C., and the Shenandoah National Park.
Raymond described his wife's passion as "life," with a joyous love for traveling with their daughter, with whom she was traveling in Spain and on a journey from Barcelona to Dusseldorf on Germanwings.
Speaking of wings, both Yvonne and Emily were devoted Christians. Since 1993, the Selke family had been members at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manassas, Virginia.
The director of education at Sacred Heart, Kathy Burr, recalled how Yvonne gave of her time and energy volunteering at the church and how Emily sang in the choir as a child.
Burr told NBC News that Yvonne "helped with our library, and she also helped in the faith formation program. She listened to prayers of the little children and was a substitute for the classroom."
Burr further explained how Emily, who attended second through eighth grade at the church school, "stayed close to their church. She was just a very special young woman."
Burr summarized, "I'd like them to be remembered as just spiritual people who are close to their church, close to their God [and] close to their community."
Robert Oliver Sr., the father of the other American to die on the plane, described to Reuters his own spiritual hope to once again see his son in heaven: "We believe because the Bible teaches that when [God's] kingdom comes, then our loved ones will return from the dead, be resurrected and will have the opportunity to live forever in a paradise [on] Earth. That hope, that comfort, is in these moments helping us tremendously."
Flight 9525 and the lives of those who perished on it are yet one more vivid reminder of how precious life is and why we celebrate Easter by placing our hope and faith in Jesus Christ for the afterlife. He said in John 11:25-26: "I am the Resurrection and the Life; he or she who believes in Me will live even if he or she dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"
To learn more, go to PeaceWithGod.net and check out the bestselling book, "Heaven," by my friend and prolific author, Randy Alcorn.
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