Promises Worth Keeping
While Jonn is doing great work covering the Rolling Thunder in DC, I figured I would pen a poignant and thought provoking post for Memorial Day.
At first I though I would dedicate the post to someone I knew personally who is among those fallen warriors that we should be thinking of on this weekend.
This was no easy task as I recalled men like Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart; then I recalled Jonn’s very close old friend Griz Martin. Maybe I would go even further back to men like Randy Cline or Mark Rademacher? Then I considered maybe someone more contemporary like Tom Echols who was my son’s best friend through high school and gave his life in Fallujah.
Tough decision indeed. So, I grabbed a beer and sat down and started a list. I was surprised at how rapidly I recalled the names and saddened as the list grew longer…and longer. Then something happened.
No, that’s just smoke in my eyes.
Please enjoy your weekend but please take a moment to reflect why we have a Memorial Day.
I watched a widow sit and weep,
But I came to kneel where warriors sleep.
I plant a flag beside the stone
And think of glory far long gone.
I will not sit where she is weeping,
For we each have promises worth keeping.
Category: Politics
IMHO, worthy of note from George Will:
http://www.primetimepolitics.com/primetime/site/page/the_last_doughboy/
“CHARLES TOWN, W.Va.—Numbers come precisely from the agile mind and nimble tongue of Frank Buckles, who seems bemused to say that 4,734,991 Americans served in the military during America’s involvement in the First World War and that 4,734,990 are gone. He is feeling fine, thank you for asking.”
Amen, brother, can’t see through the haze. Here’s a toast to Josh, Chuck, you, plus all those who had their “check cashed” by Uncle Sam.
We’ll say a special prayer when we hit our knees tonight.
COB6,
I posted my own tribute on my blog.
http://sfcmac.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/memorial-day/
I’ll be checking in to read Jonn’s coverage of Rolling Thunder.
Have a good Memorial Day, everyone.
My cousin’s son was wounded in Fallujah.
That was a nice poem. Thanks for sharing!
There’s a special Memorial Day Mass at 8:30am at my Dad’s church and afterwards, the Blessing of the graves, in the cemetery where he’s buried. I’ll be there with my Step-Mom.
Better men than I have expressed all that I feel on this day each year. GOD Bless America!
nuf sed
that poem stands alone. beautiful.