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Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery

Sleep, comrades, sleep and rest
On this Field of the Grounded Arms,
Where foes no more molest,
Nor sentrys shot alarms!

Ye have slept on the ground before,
And started to your feet
At the cannons sudden roar,
Or the drums redoubling beat.

But in this camp of Death
No sound your slumber breaks;
Here is no fevered breath,
No wound that bleeds and aches.

All is repose and peace,
Untrampled lies the sod;
The shouts of battle cease,
It is the Truce of God!

Rest, comrades, rest and sleep!
The thoughts of men shall be
As sentinels to keep
Your rest from danger free.

Your silent tents of green
We deck with fragrant flowers
Yours has the suffering been,
The memory shall be ours.

Henry Wadsworth Lonqfellow
 

 


568 posted on 05/26/2008 6:51:11 AM PDT by laurenmarlowe
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To: All; StarCMC; Kathy in Alaska; laurenmarlowe

~Memorial Day~

Flags today in tribute wave
For those loyal ones who gave
Of their youth, their hopes, their
might
For a cause they knew was right.

Morning bells sound their call,
Pause and say a prayer for all--
All who served valiantly
That men might be ever free.

Toll of bells, drums' slow beat--
Silence falls in every street.
In each heart swells the plea:
Keep us safe, but keep us free!


570 posted on 05/26/2008 7:19:37 AM PDT by MEG33 (God Bless Our Military)
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To: laurenmarlowe

Longfellow lived through the American Civil War...I wonder if he wrote this before or afterwards?

At any rate, his words evoke strong memories. Thank you, Ms. Lauren.


572 posted on 05/26/2008 7:39:11 AM PDT by HiJinx (~ Support our Troops ~ www.americasupportsyou.mil ~)
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To: laurenmarlowe

That’s beautiful.


603 posted on 05/26/2008 11:23:52 AM PDT by Just Lori (There is nothing democrat"ic" about democrats.)
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