Found Her Dad, But Too Late

Found Her Dad, But Too Late

Hello, My name is Duana Gosselin. I live in Bradenton, Florida and it’s nice here.

All my life I've been a proud daughter. I was named after my father and I do not hesitate to tell anyone that I've been named after a man I never knew.

I wanted to, I have tried several times looking for him—Internet searches, phone calls to strange houses hoping it was his. When I got married, I wanted to have my husband meet my father because I know he would love him.

I search his name about once a month or so—sometimes not for years, but the thought is always there. I came upon your paper (Herald, June 6, 2009) and there he was in black and white: Dana L Gordon, a great man, a wonderful man, a veteran, a father of four daughters, a son, 20 grandchildren.

Dad, I found you finally... But you are gone. My whole life I was missing you, I was missing someone I never knew for more than a few days. How is that possible, you might think. How can I sit here and cry over a man who was never there for me? Well, I did, I am, and I will. I miss you, dad, and I'll never get the chance to tell you how much I love you ...

Please, if you have children and you do not know them, find them—because they are wondering what they did to make you leave them. They just want your love. They want you to be proud of them. They want you to be in their lives.

I can’t be there to say goodbye, but do not think I did not cry when I found out your wake was already over and funeral is today. I do not have the money to fly to New Hampshire, but please know I love you, daddy!

Duana Gosselin (Gordon)

Bradenton, Fla.