Source: The Levinson Family  

March 9, 2010 is three years to the day that Bob Levinson - incredible father, husband and friend - disappeared on Kish Island.

Christine released the statement below to the media. Immediately following her statement is an open letter from Sarah to the governments of Iran and the United States, asking them to help get Bob home in time for her September wedding. We wanted to share them with you.

Thank you for your unwavering support and your prayers. We hope we will have good news soon.

STATEMENT FROM CHRISTINE LEVINSON ON THE 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ROBERT LEVINSON WHILE VISITING KISH ISLAND, IRAN

Tuesday, March 9th, is the 3rd anniversary of the disappearance of my husband, Robert Levinson, while on a business trip to Kish Island, Iran. 

Unlike most anniversaries that are occasions of joyful celebration by devoted friends and a loving family, this is a terrible, horrible, anniversary.  There will be no celebration for our children and grandchildren, or Bob's sister, cousins, in-laws, friends, former co-workers and many, many, others who love and miss Bob and desperately want him home.

Our daughter, Sarah, has just become engaged to be married to a wonderful man.  Her fiancé had been waiting and waiting for Bob's return in order to properly and respectfully ask for permission to marry his daughter.  He could wait no longer, so he asked for my blessing instead, and I gave it.  But what should be a joyful time is wrapped in sadness and our daughter, Sarah, is praying for Bob to be returned to us so he may walk her down the aisle at her wedding this September. 

Sarah and all of us who know and love Bob ask the government of Iran to intercede and help make this dream a reality.  We greatly depend upon Bob as the head of our family and the light in our lives, and his absence at our daughter's wedding is unthinkable to us. 

Even 3 years after the day that Bob disappeared on Kish Island, we continue to believe that the people of Iran can help us find out what happened to Bob and help him come home.   We ask anyone with information about Bob Levinson - a kind, loving, caring husband and father - to help end this nightmare and please contact our web site www.helpboblevinson.com.

Please remember Bob Levinson.

Robert Levinson is shown with his family in this undated photo.

An Open Letter to the Governments of the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran from Sarah Levinson, daughter of Robert Levinson

March 9, 2010

As you know, my father, Robert "Bob" Levinson, has been missing in Iran since March 9th, 2007, when he disappeared from Kish Island while investigating cigarette smuggling. I am writing to remind you that my family and I need him home now, and we are pleading for you to do whatever is in your power to make that happen, as we know you can.

Over the past three years, my family has desperately reached out to you as much as possible, describing how difficult this situation is on my mother, myself and my six siblings, my father's two grandchildren and his extended family - not to mention the many lives our father has touched in his 62 years on this earth. We have told you of our father's kindness and compassion, how much he is needed and missed, and how our lives grow darker every day we are without him.

We have also asked that this case not become a political issue between our two countries, and explained to you how Bob Levinson is just one father who needs to be back home with his family.

Unfortunately, none of our messages have brought us any closer to finding our father and bringing him home. Today, I beg of you to help bring him home as I personally need him more than ever. Last month, my boyfriend of 4 1/2 years asked my mother and brother for my hand in marriage, and as should be every daughter's right, I need my father to give me away at my wedding.

In almost every culture around the world, the father of the bride is a critical role in the wedding ceremony, coming second only to that of the bride and groom themselves. A father walking his daughter down the aisle and giving her away to her new husband is a tradition as old as marriage, symbolizing a daughter leaving her family to start a new life with her spouse.

When my sister got married a few years ago, I remember seeing the love in my father's eyes when he lifted her veil, kissed her on the cheek and shook her husband's hand to officially give her away. I cried watching my father beam with pride as they danced together, and I looked forward to the day when it would be my turn to dance with him.

I was never one of those girls that dreamt about my wedding growing up. In the few times I ever thought about it, there were only two things that I was sure of: I wanted to find a man to marry who was as amazing as my father, and I wanted to have that special dance alone with my dad. In my turn, however, I would stand on his shoes barefoot, just like I used to do as a little girl.

I am very blessed to have found the amazing man I was looking for in my fiancé. He is kind-hearted, and he always puts others before himself. My father met him on several occasions before he disappeared, and I know he saw much of himself in him, just like I do. It will break my dad's heart to hear how long my fiancé waited to propose in the hopes of asking his permission first. There is no doubt in my mind that my father would have offered his full blessing.

My father, Bob Levinson, needed to be home three years ago when he first disappeared, but that did not happen. My father needed to be home when my sister gave birth to his second grandchild, over a year ago now, but that too did not happen. My father needed to be home for his and my mother's own 35th wedding anniversary last May, but again that did not happen. 

My father needs to be home now to dance with me at my wedding, a once in a lifetime event that no father should ever miss. I cannot begin to imagine getting married without my father walking me down the aisle and giving me away to my future husband. I beg of you, with every ounce of my being, to please make that happen.

Sincerely,

Sarah Levinson

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