Photo of eagle on Fort Snelling gravestone

Star Tribune ^ | JON TEVLIN

[Kartographer]

A quick recap: Amateur photographer Frank Glick was on his way to work when he drove through Fort Snelling National Cemetery early one morning. He spotted a bald eagle through the mist, perched on a gravestone, and snapped shots with his aging but ever-present camera.

Nice shot, he thought.

[Kartographer]

[metmom]

What a beautiful picture!

[HartleyMBaldwin]

“He spotted a bald eagle through the mist, perched on a gravestone, and snapped shots with his aging but ever-present camera.”

Why did the photographer find it necessary to perch on a gravestone?

[Kartographer]

I wrote the follow poem in tribute to Frank's photo and more importantly to all who have served. Thank you VETS!!!

The Eagle's Watch
In a quiet river valley, Lies a green and peaceful place, Where warriors come to rest, Having honorably met their fates.

No more do they stand the watch, Their worthy service done, They've passed their duties on To other Fathers' sons.

Yet flying high above them, On silent wings spread wide, Soars freedom's embodiment, And a country's sign of pride.

The mighty Eagle watches o'er all And guards their well-earned rests. For he like they, knows the feel, Of Freedom in his chest.

And though he does his best to guard, The fallen warriors' sleep. Still at times he grows so weary, And must rest his wings a-beat.

So slowly he glides his way, To where the fallen rest, And there he bides his time a bit Among the honored Vets.

And though he knows no words, Of the valiant warrior's speech, Still they communicate, In a way that words can't reach.

Having communed with those who lie, Among the rows of stone, The Eagle takes to flight again, And resumes his post alone.

In endless soaring circles, He surely makes his rounds. Guarding the fallen heroes, Who make this hallowed ground.

Copyright 2011 by Jack Cook

[HartleyMBaldwin]

Oops, should have been posted to Kartographer.

[MomwithHope]

That poem brought tears to my eyes, fantastic - THNAK YOU!

[MomwithHope]

oops THANK YOU!

[MGunny]

The Eagle knows the sacrifice made.

[Floratina]

That is a big bird.

[Slyfox]

Almost as if the eagle is apologizing to all the people there who voted for Biden.

[PGR88]

wow - that bird is a monster

I’ve seen them here in the NY, but not nearly that size

[proud American in Canada]

That is so beautiful and inspiring. Our national bird keeping watch over our passed patriots.

Wonderful.

[proud American in Canada]

“Almost as if the eagle is apologizing to all the people there who voted for Biden.”

That literally made me laugh out loud. :)

[TeddyRay]

Beautiful!

[NEMDF]

What a lovely poem!

We live a good ways from any rivers, but do have a small man-made lake (dam site) near our house. In 2016, I remember driving home from work, near the time of the election, and twice seeing bald eagles circling overhead. It brought me great peace and faith that things would work out well.

I had been watching on my drives home over the past couple months, to see an eagle in the same area, and while having strong faith that God would answer our prayers again... did not see any.

Then my sister shared that she was having a solo picnic lunch in a park last week (also far from any rivers, near a lake in IL), when one flew over, pretty low. So I am taking that as a sign that maybe POTUS will persist and we will be rewarded with a second term. I guess I have a bit of bald eagle superstition...

[READINABLUESTATE]

I am currently sitting less than three miles from that exact spot.
I see eagles circling overhead nearly every day.

[IronJack]

The answer to “Who guards the guardians?”

[metmom]

Misplaced clauses can be funny.

Too bad they don’t teach people to write in journalism school

[Verginius Rufus]

Fort Snelling is where Dred Scott’s owner was stationed—that became the basis of Dred Scott’s lawsuit (claiming that having resided in a free territory meant that he was no longer a slave).

[getitright]

I live 90 miles West of Chicago.
First time in my life I saw an eagle near where I live. I caught very short glimpse of what I assumed was those big nasty buzzards that circle soar about, but had this weird notion that it had a white head.

When I got home and stepped out into the yard, there was the glorious site. A bald eagle literally circling my home and then vanishing. I took it as a reassuring sign several days before the election.