<p>A figure of speech in the book An t-Oileánach (The Islander) by Tomás Ó Criomhthain (Thomas O’Kreeghan) flows through my mind as I reflect on <em>Denne Aronson Sweeney</em>’s life: Mar ná beidh a leithéidí arís ann (“His like will not pass this way again”).<br />Denne’s West Point years included working on the Pointer. This fueled his love of writing, which continued throughout his life as editor of the Southwest Celtic Music Association’s Céilí newsletter, several Sons of Confederate Veterans camp newsletters, and computer programmer club newsletters. He met every endeavor with dedication, determination, and sometimes sheer force of will. <br />After graduation, he spent some time moving to various stations across the nation in the Armor branch. He mentioned a tremendous enjoyment in the tanks and live fire exercises in Washington, but changed his MOS from Armor to the JAG as he posted overseas. <br />Denne’s Cullum file begins with his appointment to the U.S. Army Headquarters of Europe and 8th Division (1964-67), which sent him to Heidelberg, Germany, where he and his first wife, Marilyn, determined to live with the locals. Between the stationing and the house to which they had all been assigned at various times, Denne and Marilyn met lifelong friends who often sat around the same table at the German pub Seppl. The house number, “57,” became the shortened nickname of that little group of friends. Denne described many good times as work would allow: good German beer, food, dice games, skiing, listening to folk music in the European music scene, shopping at the Christmas market, and wonderful cultural moments in sight of Heidelberg Castle with its fireworks displays. <br />Denne also joined the 7th Army Attaché Parachute Team and rose to commander with many jump competitions, demonstrations, and meets with other countries’ teams. One of those jumps shattered his right ankle, which had to be pieced back together with pin and screw, but he still remained active, even with final settlement in Dallas, TX.<br />Service in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 sent Denne to work in the Military Assistance Command. He told me of one very close call bombing that left a piece of shrapnel falling close to his foot on the roof of his quarters. He later retrieved the piece when it cooled enough to handle and brought it home. <br />Denne and Marilyn moved across California, Utah, and Idaho after his discharge at the rank of captain (forever after his nickname) and worked for various employers, before they settled permanently back in the Dallas area near family. Within that time, he returned to school for his master’s in computer software engineering, graduating from the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Texas, Arlington. <br />Smitten with the Irish Wolfhound dog breed, Denne and Marilyn became lifelong enthusiasts of that breed, joining the North Texas Irish Wolfhound Association and diving into the local Celtic music community. One of their Wolfhounds, Bedwyn, won a national championship. <br />Denne and Marilyn built their final residence on 10.5 acres in the far northeast of Ellis County in 1984. Construction was completed in 1986 as they pursued the dream of a Wolfhound family running their Wolfhound and kitty hideaway. All of that was sandwiched between jobs at Honeywell, Texas Instruments, Raytheon and good friendships in the Celtic music society. He and Marilyn also funded local musicians’ recording projects and volunteered at festivals. Denne took early retirement to care for Marilyn at home in 2002. She died on St. Patrick’s Day 2003 from cancer. On May 7, 2005, Denne married R. Denice Brown in Dallas. <br />Only one Wolfhound family ran the property: Emma, Ozzie, Bobby Lee, and Annabelle, with, sometimes, their own smaller dogs. Their cat family ran the inside. Denne loved them all. The last Wolfhounds, Ciara and Sceolan, ran the compound, playing with their dogs in the annual bluebonnet explosion in the pastures. Sceolan lived a few weeks past his 11th birthday but died 14 days after Denne passed. <br />Denne’s best stand came in the Sons of Confederate Veterans as he joined to honor two of his great-grandfathers: Private Bob Smith Pope, Company F, 19th Texas Cavalry, and Sergeant P.E.A. Williams of the Palmetto Sharpshooters Regiment, South Carolina (1st Palmetto). Denne worked his way up through the ranks of the Texas Division from camp newsletter editor to commander, Gaston-Gregg Camp #1384, 1992-94; then onward as North Texas Brigade commander, second lieutenant commander of Texas Division, first lieutenant division commander, National Awards Committee, Graves Committee service, lieutenant commander in chief of National SCV and commander in chief, 2004-06. <br />As the Texas Division commander, Denne’s name was signed for standing to the lawsuit opposing the removal of memorial plaques in the Texas State Capitol that honored the Confederate widows whose pension fund paid for their construction. Many other heritage violation struggles followed, but the most trying event came as national commander in chief. It was the infamous “coup” attempt of the past commanders’ power block to wrench the organization away from the membership. Denne’s knack for calling out the best in people encouraged many to step forward and own their membership in the organization. Such a statement merely glosses over of the nastiness of that event and the toll it took on everyone involved, but the Sons of Confederate Veterans grew stronger through the turmoil.<br />After his term ended, Denne remained active in the Sons of Confederate Veterans, starting new camps and speaking across the area as was his custom. He went back to his local camp, O.M. Roberts #178 in Waxahachie, TX, until his health further deteriorated. Denne died July 5, 2018 from cancer and cardiac complications.<br /><em>— R. Denice Brown-Sweeney</em></p>