Renee, I am so sorry about your dad. What a sad tone for the season.
The tattoo sounds like a wonderful honor for him.
Something else you might want to consider (if it's not too painful) would be doing a small project for veterans every Rudy Day this year. You could put a shoe box of things together for the troops overseas in his honor, for instance, or bake cookies for the local VFW post. Just a thought.
You and your family are in my prayers.
Marie