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СпутникиРНSpaceXРоскосмосNASA"It just makes me so happy to know how much he would have enjoyed seeing his country play at World Cup."
The dad of a tragic RAF firefighter said his son's dream of going to the World Cup came true after a touching memorial in the US.
Robert Fleeting, 24, was found hanged in his barracks at RAF Benson, Oxfordshire, in September 2011 following a night out with comrades.
His parents Charlie and Susan, from East Kilbride, have continuously worked to keep his memory alive - and have now seen out their son's dream of following his team to the World Cup.
A saltire bearing Robert's face made the journey to the US for the World Cup with fellow Tartan Army supporter and family friend Paul O'Reilly.
Charlie, 64, told the Record: "My son dreamed of following the Scotland team to the World Cup and now he has.
"It makes me so happy to know how much he would have enjoyed seeing his country play.
"Even though he never got the chance to go in person, seeing his tribute go all the way to America was so touching.
"Robert loved to watch Scotland at Hampden. He'd have been over the moon to see Scotland qualify for the World Cup."
Steve Clarke's men took on Haiti and Morocco in Boston before playing Brazil in Miami.
Family friend Paul headed out to the Massachusetts capital with thousands of other Scotland fans for the tournament last month.
In honour of Robert he took a replica of the flag which sits at his memorial waterfall in his family garden.
On the trip, he took it to the famous Cheers bar because "it's the place where everybody remembers your name", as well as Scotland's games.
Pictures taken outside the pub show Paul holding the flag and posing with two local police officers who stopped to ask about Robert.
Charlie said: "He was telling everyone about Robert's story and the flag. Two police officers even approached him to ask about the flag. They were overcome with emotion.
"It's big events like these that Robert has missed out on, that really affect you as a parent.
"He missed Scotland making the World Cup, having the chance to see it and his little nephew with his kilt on for the games.
"All our family had their Scotland tops on to watch the games.
"If he was still alive, he'd have been over in Boston and Miami with his kilt on.
"He was incredibly patriotic and loved bagpipe music because it reminded him of home while he was away from Scotland with the RAF. He would ask me to make up CD's with the music.
"There is not a day that goes by when I don't think of Robert and all that he has missed."
Dad Charlie, formerly of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and wife Susan have spent almost 15 years fighting for answers over their airman son's death.
The 24-year-old's death was ruled a suicide at an inquest. He was engaged to be married when he died.
His parents believe he was 'murdered in initiation ceremony' and insist that vital questions remain unanswered.
They are waiting to learn whether the High Court will grant a fresh inquest after the Attorney General granted them permission - known as a fiat - to challenge the original inquest earlier this year.
Charlie says the family has never been given the full picture and that DNA found on his t-shirt and curtains seems to indicate more people were involved in his death.
They also claim items of his clothing were missing and that they were not intially approached to verify handwritten suicide notes.
They hope a new hearing will bring them closer to the answers.
He added: "The hardest part is waiting for the truth.
"Robert's story has reached far and wide and we must continue to do so.
"It's overwhelming to get all this support from across the world.
"Our journey for a second inquest is still ongoing.
"We are hoping for closure. We will always remember him."
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