Posted on 05/29/2004 10:40:28 PM PDT by chadsworth
Remember to Salute
A thousand flags are held by men, A thousand stories of back when, The warriors clashed neath battered rag. On closer view, it was their flag.
The flag stood always at the front, When battle came, it took the brunt, And though the bullets rent and tore, The flag would never shirk from war.
Every flag, and every color, Holds a meaning, all of valor. Men who stand in salutation, Are the fabric of our nation.
And the flag that fills their eyes, Along with tears that might arise, Show the heart that forges on, Til the victory has been won.
Stand and honor passing glory, Remember well the honored story. The flag deserves salute and then, Remember to salute the men.
NicknamedBob . . . . May 17, 2004 © 2004
Dear Unknown Soldier
I am writing this letter to you, dear soldier, to ask for your forgiveness.
As we each take a moment of silence on Memorial Day we will remember the millions of brave and gallant soldiers who fought for our freedom and we will thank them for their courage and their sacrifice.
We will attempt to imagine what their sacrifice must have been like -- the days in the trenches, the constant ring of gunshots, the blast of bombs and buzz of fighter planes. We will consider life on the frontline caked in mud and blood, watching soldiers fall around us. We will try to comprehend the death and destruction in a constant ring of hell. We attempt to imagine the barbaric realities of war, the starving prisoners, the homeless, parentless children, the wounded and dying young men and women. And we will try to understand the pain of knowing we may never see our children or our families again.
You, Unknown Soldier, can help me to understand for your sacrifice was a huge one.
Your bravery and courage has gone without its medal and without a grave to bear its cross. You selflessly gave your namesake to preserve a way of life and now you stand valiantly amongst the poppies as a statue of honor, courage and of freedom.
We will never fully understand your suffering, your heartache and will never even know your identity. You could have been a father, a brother, a son, a grandfather, a nephew -- you could have even been me.
But, dear soldier, I write to tell you that you do have an identity and perhaps one of the most honorable. You represent each and every soldier gone before and those who came after. You represent freedom and peace for me and my neighbors. You represent a life of honor, courage and bravery.
And so, as I pause in two minutes of silent tribute I will no longer call you Unknown Soldier, for you have a name -- thousands of them. You are using each one of ours.
Lest we forget. . .Renowned Soldier.
Cindy Ballance
Thank you for posting. Very nice poem, Bob. Thank you for the very appropriate and lovely graphic, Billie.
Just looked at your graphic again, in the shape of a flying flag. ; )
Nice poem, dansy.
Thank you for noticing! You're very observant!
That poem has one very powerful message. This is a keeper, thanks so much.
Some days I got it, most days, well, most days I try to have it.
I'm sure others noticed too but did not say anything.
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