. "[5], Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 23:15, U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yInvz73m_8, "POW's Homecoming a Picture of Joy, but a Tapestry of Sadness", "Loretta Adams Obituary (2010) San Francisco Chronicle", "Coming Home: To a war-weary nation, a U.S. POW's return from captivity in Vietnam in 1973 looked like the happiest of reunions", https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/watch/episode/2701K1-filoli-hour-1/, Pilots from Takhli and Korat Airbases shot down between 19651972, Sad Story Behind 'Burst of Joy' Vietnam POW Photo, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Burst_of_Joy&oldid=1141017147. This phone number may belong to other persons L Kitching, Kathryn F Kitching, Norman E Kitching, Andrew Robles. Lorrie Kitching is 65 years old and was born on 08/02/1957. An associated email address for Robert Stirm is jjdmskel***@aol.com . Life is too short.". "I just wanted to get to dad as fast as I could," Lorrie says. Its a wonderful piece of history that we just happened to stumble into, Lorrie recalled. He points to the picture, to the tall woman - just outpacing her younger son - dressed in a blue-and-white pleated skirt and blue sweater, sporting a large corsage. His older daughter is racing to meet him, arms outstretched, both feet off the ground, face split wide in a giddy smile. [5] Lorrie later recounted in 2003: "We were in a car behind the aircraft on the tarmac, and then they said, "You can get out now." The momentum to stay alive for my familys sake was very strong, because I had four neat children and what I believed to be a neat wife that I wanted to get back to see, he said. Posted by ; On Maj 26, 2022; This picture does not show the realities that she had accepted proposals of marriage from three different men. Starting on February 12 and continuing until March 29, 1973, almost 600 American POWs were released from North Vietnamese POW camps. By Hannah Ross, October 1, 2015. Directly behind Lorrie in the photo is Cindy, the youngest child. Retrieved from. Thats a strong incentive.. He returned a few years ago, however, after the company that hired him as a corporate pilot went bankrupt. Stirm was awarded custody of Lorrie and Robert Jr., and Loretta was given custody of Roger and Cindy. No detail was too small to bring these American prisoners home. Lorrie Alynne Stirm Kitching Rd in the United States of America. "I would like to see you when you come home, but will understand if you She works in the sales department of Media-Sourcery, marketers of multimedia software. Though it revives the pain, it is inevitable that he see the picture again from time to time. The photograph Burst of Joy. "I love you - we all love you, but you must remember how very unhappy we were together," it said. No one is sure why she showed up at Travis Air Force Base in California from time to time. She sees a father coming home, a man who will one day be a grandfather to her children. The centerpiece of the photograph is Stirm's 15-year-old daughter Lorrie, who is excitedly greeting her father with outstretched arms, as the rest of the family approaches directly behind her. The Veder entitled the prize-winning photo he'd snapped "Burst of Joy." But Stirm's homecoming was. Stirm laughs. Though the picture revives the pain, it is inevitable that he see it again from time to time. "Bob, I feel sure that in your heart you know we can't make it together - and it doesn't make sense to be unhappy when you can do something about it. Lorettas mindset was nothing new. Her mother, Loretta, and three younger siblingsRobert Jr., Roger and Cindywere only steps behind. "Because of her," he said simply. You could feel the energy and the raw emotion in the air, Veder said of the moment. The family story it was telling was of the United States. And Lorrie Stirm Kitching, now 47, is an executive administrator and mother of two sons. His daughters and sons can be seen running towards him at breakneck speed, while his wife, Loretta, seems happy, but in no hurry. Its not just, Stirm said. He rushed to a makeshift darkroom in a ladies' bathroom on the base (United Press International had commandeered the men's). And she did not even have the honor and integrity to be honest with the kids. Famed Wait for Me, Daddy Photograph Has a Complicated History, POWs: Returning to a Society They Did Not Recognize. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the picture recently and saw herself at 15, about to leap into her father's arms, her feet shod in her first pair of high heels. "After years of fighting a war we couldn't win, a war that tore us apart, it was finally over, and the country could start healing.". Zip code 94040 (Mountain View) average rent price for two bedrooms is . General Contractor/Owner at General Contractor/Owner. discoveries. The last assessment recorded was taken in the year 2015 with a value of 283184. . It remains the quintessential homecoming photograph of the time. you were gone and the children have not forgotten their father. He returned a few years ago, however, It was Christmas morning. Stirm, Deacon Robert (Nancy) Deacons; Active Deacons; Blessed Sacrament, Waterloo. (650) 342-1481 "I would like to see you when you come home, but will understand if you would rather not. The children and I never missed a night saying a prayer for your safe return. The families who did not get a reunion like hers. She In the photo, he is 14, a broad smile on his face. Burst of Joy became and remains an iconic photo marking the end of the US involvement in Vietnam. In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. The best result we found for your search is Lorrie A Kitching age 60s in Mountain View, CA in the Miramonte-springer neighborhood. "People recognized this photo," he says. Lorrie is 35 today and lives in San Mateo, Calif., with her second husband and an 11-year-old son from her first marriage. Bob, I feel sure that in your heart you know we cant make it together--and it doesnt make sense to be unhappy when you can do something about it. She is married to a lawyer and still lives in Foster City. It brought basket after basket of fan mail and newspaper clippings from all over the. Download Record Provide Feedback. Burst of Joy. her first high heels. Lorrie is 35 today and lives in San Mateo, Calif., with her second husband and an 11-year-old son from her first marriage. . It . Arrangements by Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512)863-2564. She also received the family home and 42.9 percent of Stirm's retirement pay, though the judge noted a great deal of evidence was presented to show a pattern of misconduct on her part during Stirm's imprisonment. She is a senior executive assistant to director of operations and infrastructure who is currently employed at Raytheon. that St. Patrick's Day in 1973, but she alluded to it in the letter handed to Looking for Kathryn Kitching online? He returned a few years ago, however, after the company that hired him as a corporate pilot went bankrupt. He followed in his father's footsteps; he is a captain in the Air Force based in Panama City. After six long years, POW Lt. Col. Robert L. Stirm was once again able to hug his 15-year-old daughter Lorrie Stirm, along with his other three children and his wife. Why? She is wearing her favorite dress, a black jumper with a lacy pinafore, knee socks and Mary Janes. Have you taken a DNA test? Veder's pick, which he instantly titled Burst of Joy, was sent out over the news-service wires, published in newspapers around the nation and went on to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1974. Enter a grandparent's name. paid.". Below are the results we could find for Lorrie Kitching. Veder's pick, which he instantly titled Burst of Joy, was sent out over the news-service wires". turned 11 two days before her father returned home. She lived a lie.. "I can't begin to tell you how proud we are of you. "You could feel the energy and the raw emotion in the air," says Veder, then 46, who had spent much of the Vietnam era covering antiwar demonstrations in San Francisco and Berkeley. My Favourite Wishlist Login / Signup My account Wishlist Login / Signup My account Thanks to Veders Burst of Joy, Stirm would join the small cadre of prisoners captivating public interest. He followed in his father's footsteps; he is a captain in the Air Force based in Panama City. . She is married to an attorney and still lives in Foster City, but declined to be interviewed. 735 Leona Ln, Tahoe City, CA 96145-Current; 735 Leona Ln, Mountain View, CA 94040; 743 Leona Ln, Mountain View, CA 94040; 1030 Sweet Ave, San Jose, CA 95129; 2755 N Lake Boulevard, Tahoe City . centre mdical europe dermatologue Joy is the sweet awareness of the gift of life and how precious it is to share. You knew Christmas was going to be great, but you He says he survived the torture, the mock executions, the dread-filled days and nights, so he could return to her, only to be handed a "Dear John" letter by a chaplain upon his release. "People recognized this photo," he says. All Rights Reserved, FAMED PHOTO IS TARNISHED FOR POW WHO CAME HOME, Utah social media influencer charged with throwing metal bar stools, wooden play set at boyfriend, Bill mandating counties to provide homeless shelters, enforce camping laws passes Utah House, Sen. Mike Lee to Japan on failure to return imprisoned U.S. officer: What goes around comes around, Media groups oppose bill requiring police to seek consent before identifying child homicide victims, Biden touts plan to raise taxes on the rich, but its unclear he has support in the House, 1 in critical condition after auto-bicycle accident. Burst of Joy. anti emmeleur feeder. stairs because we knew that there was a great present waiting for us. Roger, 12 at the time, trails everyone, wearing a ski jacket. But he says he can't bring himself to display the picture." "It wasn't your fault - we are extremely unsuited and managed to make each other miserable. The centerpiece of the photograph is Stirm's 15-year-old daughter Lorrie, who is excitedly greeting her father with outstretched arms, as the rest of the family approaches directly behind her. . His horrific prison experience was a far cry from the suburban comforts of . never missed a night saying a prayer for your safe return. This picture does not show the realities that she had accepted proposals of marriage from three different men. Los Angeles Time July 4, 1993.OW's Homecoming a Picture of Joy, but a Tapestry of Sadness: Vietnam: Photo of Bob Stirm and family won Pulitzer Prize and symbolized end of war. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. The joy of this reunion leaps out from the pages of history: Bob Stirm, crisp in his Air Force uniform, was finally home after nearly 5 1/2 years in the prison camps of Vietnam. The photo is in the house of every member of the family, except Stirm. There is a special place in Hell for those who cheat on their spouses, and an even more exclusive club for those who cheat on spouses serving in the military. Everybody's face is genuinely happy.". Today, she is Cindy Pierson, the 31-year-old mother of an 8-year-old girl. wife that I wanted to get back to see. Even though there were only twenty POWs of that first increment released aboard the plane, almost 400 family members turned up for the homecoming. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. It portrays everybody there was happy to see me.". . "It never would have gone away in my mind, but seeing that photo brings it all back again--just all the joy that was there." May 17, 2017. Lorrie Stirm Kitching [the girl running to greet her father, who had been released in 1973 after fives years in a Hanoi prison] 'We have this very nice picture of a very happy moment, but every time I look at it, I remember the families that weren't reunited, and the ones that aren't being reunited today many, many families and I think, I'm one of the lucky ones.' They have also lived in Los Altos, CA and Foster City, CA. Your Privacy Rights Lorrie Stirm Kitching [the girl running to greet her father, who had been released in 1973 after fives years in a Hanoi prison] 'We have this very nice picture of a very happy moment, but every time I look at it, I remember the families that weren't reunited, and the ones that aren't being reunited today many, many families and I think, I'm one of the lucky ones.' Still, he said, the couple have come together for weddings and other family events, and all four children are on good terms with both parents. Lorrie Alynne Stirm Kitching Rd. So we just burst out of the car and started running to my dad. The Veder entitled the prize-winning photo he'd snapped "Burst of Joy.". It's not just," Stirm says now. "It's not fair. From left to right, Lt Col Robert L. Stirm, Lorrie Stirm, Bo Stirm, Cindy Stirm, Loretta Stirm, and Roger Stirm. "It brought a lot of notoriety and publicity to me and, unfortunately, the legal situation that I was going to be faced with, and it was kind of unwelcomed," Stirm said of the photo, taken by Associated Press photographer Sal Veder. Stirm was awarded custody of Lorrie and Robert Jr., and Loretta was given custody of Roger and Cindy. She simply couldn't believe they were about to be reunited. After his promotion to Colonel and retirement in 1977, Stirm went to work for a steel company and as a corporate pilot. It seems like another lifetime ago, she said. . The picture captures the truth of life. The joy of this reunion leaps out from the pages of history: Bob Stirm, crisp in his Air Force uniform, was finally home after nearly 5 1/2 years in the prison camps of Vietnam. Mountain View, CA. Such is the case with Burst of Joy. As for the rest of the family, Robert Jr. is a dentist in Walnut Creek, California; he and his wife have four children, the oldest of whom is a marine. Her mother, Loretta, and three younger siblings were only steps behind. "I have changed drastically - forced into a situation where I finally had She works in the sales department of MediaSourcery, marketers of multimedia software. Its a wonderful piece of history that we just happened to stumble into, she said. She is wearing her "I love you - we all love you, but you must remember how very unhappy we The day was overcast, meaning no shadows and near-perfect light. . school; they were married in 1955 when she was 19. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.. All four of Robert Stirm Sr.'s children have a. Last updated 1 year ago. The picture also reminds Lorrie of the soldiers who did not come home. "We have this very nice picture of a very happy moment," Lorrie says, "but every time I look at it, I remember the families that weren't reunited, and the ones that aren't being reunited todaymany, many familiesand I think, I'm one of the lucky ones. For so many other children, their father's never came home from Vietnam. "I have several copies of the photo," he said, "but I don't display it in the house." . Why? To Stirm, now 60, it is cruel irony that so public a reunion had so hollow a core. All eyes were glued to the soldiers, except for Veder who noticed a girl jumping out of a van. "There's some sort of notoriety in that. It Didnt Work. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. I was so young. Everybodys face is genuinely happy.. Robert Stirm Jr. is 34 now, the father of three sons and a dentist in Concord, Calif. His sister, Cindy, is his office manager. "It's not fair. "I have changed drastically - forced into a situation where I finally had to grow up," the letter read in part. In the photo, he is 14, partially blocked by Lorrie, a broad smile on his face. Burst of Joy is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by Associated Press photographer Slava "Sal" Veder, taken on March 17, 1973, at Travis Air Force Base in Solano County, California, United States. She lives in Mountain View, Calif., with her husband. I don't feel like I was really a part of it. CLICK VIETSN - VietBF - Vietnamese Best Forum. . Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. But there was more to the story than was captured on film. Despite the turmoil surrounding the reunion, the personal reunion that was made so public elicits a different memory for Stirms children one of sheer happiness. . Stirm later learned that Loretta had been with other men throughout his captivity and had received marriage proposals from three of them. [5], The photograph depicts United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Stirm being reunited with his family, after spending more than five years in captivity as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. This Her mother remarried in 1974 and lives in Texas with her husband. The photo, taken by Sal Veder of The Associated Press, "brought a lot of Roger, 12 at the time, trails everyone. Lorrie Stirm, daughter of POW Lt. Col. Robert Stirm, recounted in a 2005 Smithsonian magazine article what it was like to wait for her father at Travis after he was released from six years of imprisonment in March 1973. What some women through the years have done--and will do--for a do. running, are his two grinning boys; his younger daughter; his tall, attractive SUPPORTING UKRAINE TOGETHER. The centerpiece of the photograph is Stirm's 15-year-old daughter Lorrie, who is excitedly greeting her father with outstretched arms, as the rest of the family approaches directly behind her. Privacy Statement joined Ferry Steel Products, the business his grandfather started in San Released prisoner of war Lt. Col. Robert L. Stirm is greeted by his family, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9DV-L4M, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXZW-NXN, http://articles.latimes.com/1993-07-04/news/mn-9908_1_vietnam-war, "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (, "United States Casualties of the Vietnam War, 1956-1998," database, FamilySearch (. . For 24-hours, the nation will slow down and be thankful. And she did not even have the honor and integrity to be honest with the kids. States. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the picture recently and saw herself at 15, about to leap into her fathers arms, her feet shod in her first pair of high heels. Across party lines, across religious, social and economic classifications people will be grateful for life. Its not fair. marriage within a year or so after I was shot down. "It was like Christmas," she said. Cookie Settings. "I can't begin to tell you how proud we are of you. 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