A Message from Neal

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JeffKnox

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Jan 17, 2005
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Location
Manassas, VA
Dad wrote this message to the troops after the doctors gave up on him. Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated so rapidly that it didn't get sent out. Mom has attached comments as well.

A memorial service will be held this Thursday at the Manassas Church of Christ at 10:30. Details available at www.NealKnox.com.

Jeff
-----------------------------------------------

From the Desk of
Neal Knox

The Firearms Coalition
PO Box 3313
Manassas, VA 20108


Dear Friends,

I’ve always made it a point to deliver the news to you straight – good or bad. Now I’m afraid I have some unpleasant news. As you’re aware, I have been fighting colon cancer for the past year. The doctors tell me that my fight is almost over.

I believe in miracles. I believe in God’s healing power and eternal life through Jesus Christ. I know it will take nothing short of a miracle for me to win this battle.

Should that miracle be granted, I will rejoice; but I rejoice nonetheless, for I’ve been blessed with a wonderful life, a great family, work that I love, and many wonderful friends. Most of all, I thank God for my long-suffering wife Jay Janen who not only put up with me, but has actively supported my efforts for the Second Amendment for nearly forty-nine years.

It’s been a great run!

I had always assumed that long life was my birthright. My father passed away just this past fall at the age of ninety-two.

I counted on the same sort of life-span and was planning accordingly. We’ve barely settled into that house in the country that I’ve been promising Jay for so long. I started rebuilding her classic Mustang convertible and have it in pieces in the basement garage. I’ve laid out a 100- yard range next to the house, and was looking forward to having my dear friend Ken Oehler help me set up a ballistics lab in the basement.

Time for those projects was budgeted into the next generation of the Firearms Coalition. The plan was to have sons, Chris and Jeff, take more prominent roles in the fight, freeing me up to do other things like shooting and writing books. Jeff moved out here for that purpose over a year ago but my illness sidetracked those plans.

I have long wanted to evolve the Firearms Coalition into a resource for grassroots activists and organizations. The goals of the Coalition would be to provide activists with the resources, training, and technology they need to be more effective in the fight.

Now, I hope you will help Jay and the boys as it looks like they will be taking on this important task without me.

There will be more details in the weeks and months to come, including a new book that Chris, Jeff and I have been collaborating on. I regret that I am unlikely to see it in print, but I am confident in their ability to see it through.

I am thankful for you and the many other friends that have blessed my life making me a truly wealthy man. There have been disagreements, even fights, but the goal of freedom has been a unifying force.

I ask your prayers, both for me and for my family, especially for Jay who never expected to see me go first.

I urge you to continue the fight. Continue your support of the ongoing efforts of the Firearms Coalition and keep the grass roots growing.

Thank you for keeping me in the fight for all these years.

As always: Yours for the Second Amendment,


Neal

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Neal passed away early this morning, January 17. He was surrounded by our children and his brothers and went quickly without pain.

A memorial service has been scheduled for Thursday, January 20, at the Manassas Church of Christ, 8110 Signal Hill Road in Manassas, Virginia. The service will begin at 10:30 AM with a luncheon to follow.

It was Neal’s wish that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Firearms Coalition or to Rainbow Children’s Home in Gainesville, VA.

Neal’s condition deteriorated so rapidly that there wasn’t time to get the above- letter out before his death. He very much wanted to let you, as a faithful friend, know what was going on. We will post more information on the web site, www.NealKnox.com.

I can’t tell you how much Neal has loved the difficult work to which he has dedicated his life. It has cost us much while at the same time being extremely rewarding in so many ways. The greatest reward has been the love and friendship that we have found along the way. You’re an important part of that.

Thank you so much,

Jay
Jay Jannen Knox
 
Wow. I did not know this gentleman, but I do believe he was just that. My condolences to the family and friends on their loss.
 
Jeff,
My prayers are with you and your family. I lost my Dad to colon cancer just over one year ago. There are no words...

Dave (Spackler)
 
Jeff, To you and your family my most sincere sympathy and prayers. I know the comming days will hard for you,but if you have the faith that your dad displayed in that letter I am sure you grief is comforted in knowing that your Dad is in a place of beauty and peace beyond imagination. I know he will be sorely missed by you and your family and many, many others as well.
May God grant you Peace beyond all understanding and the friends to stand with you in your time of grief...

God Bless
 
My condolences Jeff. I'm happy for the good times you had with your father, and I know you'll miss him. From what I've read of your dad I think the following passage is appropriate.


1 Corinthians 15

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body... I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed– in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?â€
 
Jay, Jeff and Chris,

We're sorry for your loss, and for our own loss. He was one of the good ones. I rejoice that he lived.

Jeff, you've had quite a man leading the way for you. Welcome.
 
I loved reading your Dads' writings. He is missed already. I lost my Dad at age 69 also. It is hard and odd concept to grasp. Could someone put up a link to donate to the Firearms Coalition.
 
Jeff - posted on the other thread but - again my condolences to you all ... and I am thankful Neal did not have to hang on too long in a suffering mode. Thanks ever so much for letting us see the letter - some fine last words.

To reiterate also - we can be not only proud of Neal's sustained efforts over near 5 decades but - we can know that he has left a legacy of gargantuan proportions ... he will be one of those who will IMO become a legend and stay that way. A fitting epitaph.

RIP Neal.
 
Well, Neal, my friend.

You no longer need those glasses to see the sights clearly.

There's a Twin Comanche on the ramp, gassed up and ready to go, wearing the tail number ending in 22T (Two Two Tango), and you'll always have a tailwind.

The birds hold for the dogs.

All rifles are accurate.

And you don't need to fight the anti-gunners, because there are none where you are.

But . . . , some day, if I'm very lucky, I'll see you, and when I do, I hope you don't mind if I walk up and say . . .

"Hello, Gun Lobby."
 
I have no words of my own, and with your indulgence, will borrow from Shelley...


Peace, peace! he is not dead, he doth not sleep -
He hath awakened from the dream of life -
'Tis we, who lost in stormy visions, keep
With phantoms an unprofitable strife,
And in mad trance, strike with our spirit's knife
Invulnerable nothings. - We decay
Like corpses in a charnel; fear and grief
Convulse us and consume us day by day,
And cold hopes swarm like worms within our living clay.

He has outsoared the shadow of our night;
He lives, he wakes - 'tis Death is dead, not he...


My heartfelt condolences to the Knox family. I raise a glass to a true champion of justice and right.


-0-
 
Me too...

It's all been said, but heartfelt condolences nevertheless.

"Those whom the gods love are called early home."
 
My Sympathy to the Knox family - Neil was a wonderful man who will not be forgotten by those of us he inspired !
 
Sonds like we lost one of our best men. Now, it is up to the rest of us to pick up where Neal left off and try to make him proud. My prayers are with his family.
 
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