CHESTERTOWN — The overcast conditions Friday evening suited the somber mood when behind the Driftwood Inn, residents attended a candlelight vigil for the late Bobby Messick.
Messick, 72, was discovered on Aug. 11, by resident Christa Blackmon. He was pronounced dead later by the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center of Chestertown. No foul play was suspected according to Chestertown Police.
The vigil that night however was not to talk about his death, but his life.
It was an important event to not only shed light on the growing pandemic of homelessness in Kent County, but to show how Messick was a homegrown Kent County man, Vietnam War veteran, and beloved brother and friend.
It was not to redirect attention either. Nobody minced words. Messick had a severe problem with alcohol. He had opportunities to seek help and family supporting him, but didn’t wish to live his life confined; his way of seeing things.
As Rick Hurly, a friend of 50 years put it, “Bobby stuck to his guns. He lived life the way he saw it. He apologized to nobody, he never hurt nobody. He was a good man and like a lot of people have demons, he was his own enemy.”
Taylor Brady spoke. She once was babysat by Messick’s sister, and told those in attendance she never saw Messick as homeless...just wanting to live life free.
Commander Tim Lloyd of the Chestertown American Legion tries to help local veterans whenever he can and spoke of Messick. He and fellow members, Paul Showalter and First Vice Commander Lenell Copper, drove Messick to the VA hospital in Baltimore three weeks before his death.
Messick left an unforgettable impression upon Lloyd, the former Navy man.
Messick was one to never complain, according to friends and family’s eyewitness testimony. Case-in-point, it was an half-hour into the ride with Legion members when Lloyd found out Messick was blind.
Lloyd marveled how Messick trusted three strangers, who he could not see. Lloyd then relived to attendees the trip with Messick, sharing stories, 20-minute long jokes and military memories like soldiers on a convoy together. Messick talked about jumping out of the airplane 13 times, including two night jumps as an US Army 82nd Airborne, as well as other war stories.
“In the almost three hours he touched us...he touched our souls,” Lloyd said.
During that conversation, Showalter saw that meeting Messick was a crossing point; a missing piece of the puzzle of his life.
Showalter, 82 years old, brought up the fact that he spent two years in Germany, in Baumholder, a garrison near Frankfort, training young soldiers to go to Vietnam in artillery.
Messick was one of those young soldiers.
“I had no idea that Bobby had been there until we started the conversation in the truck. There were so many points that he knew and I knew, and I’ve been thinking about those points in conversation. He really had a great memory, and had a great life in the sense he was able to express the happiest parts of his life.”
Copper added to that. In their conversation, he could see Messick was whip-smart.
“I felt like I knew him my whole life,” Copper said.
And when Messick wished he could see those who were helping him, Copper had said, “You’re in a brotherhood — we got you!”
Before they left him in the care of the hospital, Messick had asked if they’re going to leave him? With a tear in his eye, Copper said he had to.
“I’m gonna miss him,” Copper relayed to attendees.
Messick is survived by four siblings, two brothers and two sisters, Christine Petrone and Connie Hickman. Messick’s sisters were introduced by John Queen, president of HOYAS, who alongside Shrewsbury Parish Church sponsored the vigil.
Hickman didn’t sugarcoat things but also said what happened to her brother could have been avoided.
She said that growing up her brothers enjoyed going to the bar. She said Messick was the type of person to go above and beyond for his friends. Some of them took advantage of him though.
She said that shouldn’t have happened to her brother and hopes that isn’t happening to any elderly in the community.
Her solution was simple.
Love.
“You have to see what’s happening to people then not let it happen, because it’s wrong.”
While candles were lit, and the speakers, the sisters, and some of Messick’s loved ones gathered around photos of Messick, Reverend Henry Sabetti of the Shrewsbury Parish issued a prayer. He also urged people to take action as well, to prevent what happened to Messick from happening again.
Messick’s sister, Petrone, appreciated those attending.
“It’s heartbreaking Bobby was living homeless like he was because he did fight for our country for all of us. And for him to live that way, hurts. A lot of us didn’t do that, but we have our homes and families... I want to tell you thank you all for taking your time and coming out.”
She specially thanked Blackmon who found her brother’s body that fateful Sunday.
Later she said plans have been arranged for Messick’s cremated remains. They’ll be placed at Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery in Hurlock, Maryland.
She commended the Chestertown American Legion and Shrewsbury Church for helping them through this tough time.
Anybody wishing to reach out to the family is encouraged to call Shrewsbury Parish.
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