People recognized this photo, he said. Lorrie is 35 today and lives in San Mateo, Calif., with her second husband and an 11-year-old son from her first marriage. Lorrie A S Kitching, Age 64 Remove Record. Burst of Joy. "It was like Christmas," she says. Im the one that lives with all the aches and pains from my imprisonment, but she continues to get paid.. 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. ", 2023 Smithsonian Magazine No detail was too small to bring these American prisoners home. And Lorrie Stirm Kitching, now 47, is an executive administrator and mother of two sons. the prison camps of Vietnam. She works in the sales department of He followed in his fathers footsteps; he is a captain in the Air Force based in Panama City. 'You could feel the energy and the raw emotion in the air'. "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 says of the photo, taken by Associated Press photographer Sal Veder. Just three days before Stirms March 1973 arrival at Travis Air Force Base, California, he received a Dear John letter from his wife of 18 years, Loretta. It was Christmas morning. Robert Stirm Jr. is 34 now, the father of three sons and a dentist in Concord, Calif. His sister, Cindy, is his office manager. Lorrie is her husbands universe and will be forever loved and deeply missed. But for Stirm's older daughter, Lorrie Kitching, the photo captures a wonderful, pure moment in time. DATE OF BIRTH: March 23, 1933 PLACE OF BIRTH: San Mateo, California HOME OF RECORD: San Mateo, California Robert Stirm was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam after he was shot down on. They had four children together, and had been through a lot of good and bad, respectively. His older daughter is racing to meet him, arms outstretched, both feet off the ground, face split wide in a giddy smile. Within hours, Veders image was on the cover of most newspapers across the country and earned him a Pulitzer Prize. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website. He joined Ferry Steel Products, the business his grandfather started in San Francisco, but found it ungratifying. Just one grandparent can lead you to many This picture does not show the realities that she had accepted proposals of marriage from three different men. ". "It's not fair. She lives in Mountain View, Calif., with her husband. To Stirm, now 60, it is cruel irony that so public a reunion had so hollow a core. Among the POW ranks were Floyd Thompson, who was shot down in 1963 and retained the undesirable title of the wars longest-held prisoner; John McCain, the late senator and former presidential candidate; and former Sen. Jeremiah Denton Jr., who famously blinked out the letters T-O-R-T-U-R-E, in Morse code, while being interviewed for a propaganda film, according to Vietnam magazines Rick Fredericksen. "It wasn't your fault - we are extremely unsuited and In the photo, he is 14, partially blocked by Lorrie, a broad smile on his face. "I have several copies of the photo," he says, "but I don't display it in the house.". In his home near San Francisco, a Vietnam history book was opened to that page of Stirms life. The Veder entitled the prize-winning photo he'd snapped "Burst of Joy.". With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Travis, , , 15 Lorrie Stirm . Primary Residence: 3080 Cedarwood Dr. Tahoe City, CA 96145. Three decades after the Stirm reunion, the scene, having appeared in countless books, anthologies and exhibitions, remains part of the nation's collective consciousness, often serving as an uplifting postscript to Vietnam. In 1974, the Stirms divorced and Loretta remarried, but Lieutenant Colonel Stirm was still ordered by the courts to provide her with 43% of his military retirement pay once he retired from the Air Force. [3], USAF Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Stirm made a speech[4] "on behalf of himself and other POWs who had arrived from Vietnam as part of Operation Homecoming. All four of Robert Stirm Sr.'s children have a copy of Burst of Joy hanging in a place of honor on their walls. depuis. The pair divorced within a year, with Lorrie and her brother Robert Jr. living with 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. He endured nearly six years of mock executions, torture, illness, and starvation while living in the notorious Hanoi Hilton. "It's not fair. She lived a lie. The children and I never missed a night saying a prayer for your safe return. "You were racing down the stairs because we knew that there was a great present waiting for us. "I look at the picture and I don't 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.. Why? One of these flights included Lt. Col. Robert L. Stirm, the soldier in the famous photograph. 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 . [8] Stirm was later promoted to full Colonel and retired from the Air Force in 1977. He gazes at it. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. 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. 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 (. "I have changed drastically--forced into a situation where I finally had to grow up," the letter read in part. Stirm kt hn mt ln na ri li ti hn. 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. 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 California. Copy Link. [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. The Veder entitled the prize-winning photo he'd snapped "Burst of Joy." But Stirm's homecoming was. Stirm when he arrived in the Philippines before returning to the United She works in the sales department of Media-Sourcery, marketers of multimedia software. I have several copies of the photo, he said, but I dont display it in the house.. 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. You can view 1 entry, complete with personal details, location history, phone numbers, relatives and locations for Lorrie Kitching. clark orwick ded bob obituary clark orwick ded bob obituary 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 quietly. Photo Summary: The Stirm family running to their father, Lt. Col. Robert L. Stirm. It was Christmas morning. Bob and Loretta met at a party just after he graduated from Air Force cadet school in Texas; they were married in February 1955 when she was 19. Mountain View, CA. It was Christmas morning. 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.' It's not just," Stirm says today. centre mdical europe dermatologue Last updated 1 year ago. And Lorrie Stirm Kitching, now 47, is an executive administrator and mother of two sons. Download Record Provide Feedback. "[11], About the picture and its legacy, Lorrie Stirm Kitching once noted, "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 todaymany, many familiesand I think, I'm one of the lucky ones. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. [4] Smithsonian Magazine says that "In less than half an hour, Veder and his AP colleague Walt Zeboski had developed six remarkable images of that singular moment. 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. Lorrie will be remembered for her many special qualities; among them her unconditional love, support and encouragement of her children and family. Adding insult to injury, the divorce became a rather publicized affair, with Loretta getting custody of two of their kids, the family home and nearly 43 percent of Stirms retirement pay. I have your pictures up and your certificates and have kept you very much with us while you were gone and the children have not forgotten their father. Its not fair. It was Christmas morning. My Favourite Wishlist Login / Signup My account Wishlist Login / Signup My account 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.' As Stirm descended from the plane onto the tarmac, there was Loretta. I was so On October 27, 1967, Stirm was shot down over Hanoi while leading a flight of F-105s on a bombing mission, and was not released until March 14, 1973. Lorrie is related to Kathryn Ann Kitching and Norman E Kitching as well as 3 additional people. The comedian appeared at a council meeting this week a He returned a few years ago, however, 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. Directly behind Lorrie in the photo is Cindy, the youngest child. "It's not fair. Everybody's face is genuinely happy." The pain of these fractures were seeds buried with tears into the souls of the wounded. Publicada el junio 4, 2022 por junio 4, 2022 por Lorrie, 35, lives in San Mateo, Calif., with her second husband and an 11-year-old son from her first marriage. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the picture recently and saw her 15 The best result we found for your search is Lorrie A Kitching age 60s in Mountain View, CA in the Miramonte-springer neighborhood. Boyle, John, director. The joy of this reunion leaps out from the pages of history: Robert Stirm, marriage from three different men. "I was very pleased to see my childrenI loved them all and still do, and I know they had a difficult timebut there was a lot to deal with." And she did not even have the honor and integrity to be honest with the kids. Directly behind Lorrie in the photo is Cindy, the youngest child. Run Background Search. . Yet throughout that ordeal, the momentum to stay alive for my familys sake was very strong, Stirm told the Associated Press. All content Copyright @ 2015-2018. Auctioneer Joel Bohy valued the items as worth $2500-$3000 at auction, but said the "historical value on this is absolutely priceless. discoveries. Cookie Policy And she did not even have you were gone and the children have not forgotten their father. She is married to a lawyer and still lives in Foster City. Trung t Robert Stirm ri khng qun vi qun hm i t nm 1977 v sau lm phi cng li my bay thng mi, ri doanh nhn. that. Bleaching. What some women through the years have done--and will do--for a do. I have your Three days before he arrived in the United States, the same day he was released from captivity, Stirm received a Dear John letter from his wife Loretta informing him that their marriage was over. It's not just," Stirm says now. with all the aches and pains from my imprisonment, but she continues to get "She was very young.". "She Her mother, Loretta, and three younger siblingsRobert Jr., Roger and Cindywere only steps behind. On March 17, 1973, the Stirm family was finally reunited. 11-year-old son from her first marriage. In less than half an hour, Veder and his AP colleague Walt Zeboski had developed six remarkable images of that singular moment. Roger, 12 at the time, trails everyone. . And Lorrie Stirm Kitching, now 47, is an executive administrator and mother of two sons. And Lorrie Stirm Kitching, now 47, is an executive administrator and mother of two sons. In some ways, its hypocritical, because my former wife had abandoned the marriage within a year or so after I was shot down, he told the LA Times. Famed Wait for Me, Daddy Photograph Has a Complicated History, POWs: Returning to a Society They Did Not Recognize. "[6] Lorrie's exuberant reaction earned her moniker "The Jumper" or "The Leaper. Our mission is to get Southern California reading and talking. Lorrie is 35 today and lives in San Mateo, Calif., with her second husband and an 11-year-old son from her first marriage. On March 17, the plane landed at Travis Air Force Base in Solano County, California. Life is too short.. The photograph Burst of Joy. "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. 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