A Very Special Love Story

Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

~ In Loving Memory of
Francis Xavier Sobien ~
6/8/37 - 2/1/99

"The most important thing a father can do
for his children is to love their mother."
~Pres. David O. McKay of the the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ~

My Dad loved wolves, so that is why
I chose the wolves for the backgrounds on all his pages.

A Very Special Love Story Written by Annette Sobien, Frank's Loving Wife

I met Lance Corporal Francis Xavier Sobien, USMC, in April of 1957. It was at a dance being held in the village hall in Brookwood, Surrey, England. Quite often, I would stay at my Grandmother's house, which was near the village hall. And at that time nobody travelled by car, most of the time we would bicycle everywhere. Since Gran's house was near the hall, we could just walk. I went to the dance with my brother, Vic, and some friends. I was dancing with Vic when Frank cut in. He told me that he thought Vic was my boyfriend, we had a good laugh over that. He told me that he was staying at another village called Bisley, which is very close to Brookwood, and that he would be staying there for a few days doing some target practice with different guns and rifles. He was a very good shot, and he won several medals for sharp shooting.

Frank was stationed in London doing guard duty at the American Embassy. So when he left Bisley, I didn't see him for a while. At that time, it was very hard to get a telephone installed. In fact, I only knew of one person who lived on my estate who had a phone; seems quite primitive now. Anyway, the only way we communicated was by letter. When he was able to, Frank would visit me at my home on a weekend, my family got to know him and really liked him. I remember my brothers and some friends would play cards for cigarettes, and Frank was real popular because of the American cigarettes he smoked. My Mum and Dad were very fond of him, especially Mum. Frank would always bring something home for her when he stayed the weekend, and I don't think she has ever forgotten that.

We got engaged in July of 1957. My parents were really happy for us, and all my friends and relatives thought we made a grand couple. We decided that we would wait till Frank was out of the service before we got married, and Frank said he wanted me to see how I would like America before deciding on a date for our wedding.

Frank left England the September of 1957, and I remember there was some kind of trouble in another country, and he was sent there for several months, which postponed my trip to the States. Through all of this, we communicated by letter and made arrangements for me to fly over in September of 1958. While I was making arrangements for my trip, which entailed me having to visit the American Embassy several times to apply for a visa, the one famous newspaper in London was running a series of stories about different English girls who had married "Yanks." Most of the stories were horror stories about what happened to them when they arrived in America. My Dad was totally against me leaving England, but relented when I promised that I would come back home if it didn't work out.

I'm glad things did work out for Frank and I. We had our ups and downs during our marriage, but I could not have married a more generous man, a more loving man, than he. He was a good father to our children and taught them to be moral, honest, hard working and to love their family. I have never been sorry for the big step that I took in leaving my family and my Country for Frank. We had a good life together; I just wish it had lasted longer. I will always love him.

The song playing on here, I Got You Babe by Sonny and Cher, was a very special song to Frank and Ann.
The words are below...

I Got You Babe Performed by Sonny and Cher
They say we're young and we don't know
We won't find out until we grow
Well I don't know if all that's true
But you got me, and baby I got you

Babe, I got you babe, I got you babe

They say our love won't pay the rent
Before its earned our money's all been spent
I guess thats so we don't have a pot
But at least I'm sure of all the things we got

Babe, I got you babe, I got you babe

I got flowers, in the spring
I got you, to wear my ring
And when I'm sad
You're a clown
And if I get scared
You're always around

So let them say your hair is too long
Cause I don't care, with you I can't go wrong
Then put your little hand in mine,
Cause there ain't no hill our mountain we can't climb

Babe, I got you babe

I got you to hold my hand
I got you to understand
I got you to walk with me
I got you to talk with me
I got you to kiss goodnight
I got you to hold me tight
I got you, I won't let go
I got you to love me so

I got you babe

I got you babe, I got you babe,
I got you babe, I got you babe,
I got you babe, I got you babe...