garijen

In Your Honor

Unselfishly, you left your fathers and your mothers, You left behind your sisters and your brothers.
Leaving your beloved children and wives, You put on hold, your dreams-your lives.
On foreign soil, you found yourself planted To fight for those whose freedom you granted.
Without your sacrifice, their cause would be lost But you carried onward, no matter the cost.

Many horrors you had endured and seen. Many faces had haunted your dreams.
You cheered as your enemies littered the ground; You cried as your brothers fell all around.

When it was over, you all came back home, Some were left with memories to face all alone;
Some found themselves in the company of friends As their crosses cast shadows across the land.

Those who survived were forever scarred Emotionally, physically, permanently marred.
Those who did not now sleep eternally 'Neath the ground they had given their lives to keep free.

With a hand upon my heart, I feel The pride and respect; my reverence is revealed
In the tears that now stream down my upturned face As our flag waves above you, in her glory and grace.
Freedom was the gift that you unselfishly gave Pain and death was the price that you ultimately paid.
Every day, I give my utmost admiration To those who had fought to defend our nation.
~ Author Unknown ~

Vietnam Tears

I stood and I watched as a mother cried,
when she had heard that her son had died.
He didn't die because he was sick,
or he didn't die because he was in a wreck.
He died doing what he felt was right.

I watched a father try to hold back his tears,
His son had lived only a scant 19 years.
His son had died nine thousand miles away,
And what was there left for a father to say?
He got down on his knees and said a prayer,
His brave son knows his father did care.

I stood and watched as a little girl cried.
She didn't understand why her brother had passed on;
Why he never again played with her on the lawn.
Looking at the little girl's tears I knew,
That her big brother died fighting for you and me.
~ Author Unknown ~

JUST A SIMPLE SOLDIER
© 1985 A. Lawrence Vaincourt

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast, and he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done. In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, everyone.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors, his tales became a joke, all his buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer, for ol' Bob has passed away, and the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many, just his children and his wife. For he lived an ordinary, very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family, quietly going on his way; and the world won't note his passing; 'tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state. While thousands note their passing, and proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories, from the time that they were young, but the passing of a soldier, goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution, to the welfare of our land, some jerk who breaks his promise, and cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow, who in times of war and strife, goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

The politician's stipend and the style in which he lives, are sometimes disproportionate, to the service he gives.

While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all, is paid off with a medal and perhaps a pension, small.

It's so easy to forget them, for it is so long ago, that our Bob's and Jim's and Johnny's, went to battle, but we know.

It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys, who won for us the freedom, that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand, would you really want some cop-out, with his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier, who has sworn to defend, his home, his kin, and Country, and would fight until the end?

He was just a common Soldier and his ranks are growing thin. But his presence should remind us, we may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict, then we find the Soldier's part, is to clean up all the troubles, that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor, while he's here to hear the praise, then at least let's give him homage, at the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline, in the paper that might say:

"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

A Tribute To Veterans

In Vietnam, Korea and World Wars Past Our Men Fought Bravely so Freedom Would Last
Conditions Where Not Always Best They Could Be Fighting a Foe You Could Not Always See:
From Mountain Highs to Valley Lows From Jungle Drops to Desert Patrols

Our Sinewy Sons Were Sent Over Seas Far From Their Families And Far From Their Dreams
They Never Wrote Letters Of Hardships Despair Only Of Love, Yearning That One Day Soon:

They Would Come Home, They Would Resume And Carry On With The Rest of Their Lives

The P.O.W.¹S Stood Steadfast Against the Indignities And Cruelties Of War
They Could Not Have Lasted as Long as They Did If They Had Relinquished Their Hope That Some Day:

They Would Come Home, They Would Resume And Carry On the Rest Of Their Lives

Medics, Nurses, and Chaplains Alike Did What They Needed To Bring Back Life
They Served Our Forces From Day Into Night Not Questioning If They Would Survive:

They Mended Bones And Bodies Too, They Soothed the Spirits of Dying Souls

And for Those M.I.A¹S, Who Were Left Behind We Echo This Message Across the Seas
We Will search For as Long As It Takes You¹re Not Forgotten And Will Always Be:

In Our Hearts, In Our Prayers, In Our Minds For All Time

A Moment of Silence, a Moment of Summons Is Their Deliverance of Body And Soul
To a Sacred Place That We All Know Deep In the Shrines of Our Soul:

In Our Hearts, In Our Prayers In Our Minds For All Time

INTERLUDE: GOLD STAR MOTHERS GRIEVE: ENDLESSLY, ENDLESSLY, ENDLESSLY.......

These Immortalized Soldiers Whose Bravery Abounds They¹re Our Husbands, Fathers, and Sons
They Enlisted For the Duty at Hand To Serve the Cause of Country and Land:

They Had Honor, They Had Valor, They Found Glory That Change Them Forever

Men Standing Tall and Proud They be A Country Behind Them in a Solemn Sea
So Let the Flags of Freedom Fly Unfurled in Their Majesty High:

In the Sun, In the Rain In the Winds Across This Land

Years of Tears Has Brought Us Here Gathering Around to Hear This Sound
So Let the Flags of Freedom Fly Unfurled in Their Majesty High:

In the Sun, In the Rain, In the Winds Across This Land

REPEAT:
In the Sun, In the Rain, In the Winds For All Time

Jerry Calow (copyright 2003 ) Permission granted for use

Freedom

To all our Soldiers past and present, God Bless

Glory to the American Flag, long may she wave
So many have been covered with her when they've
gone to their grave

So many of us have taken for granted that our
freedom will always be
We tend to forget those who have kept that
right for you and for me

A Soldier will stand and fight all night to
keep us from harm
While some of us sit at home and refuse to
lift an arm

Some sit around and complain all day how
wrong this war must be
While a Soldier pushes that aside to continue
to fight for you and me

Some sit around and complain about the food
their going to eat
While a Soldier works straight through
hungry and weary on his feet

While you sit around and complain about what
you have or where you live
Remember what a Soldier somewhere for you is
about to give

A Soldier stands tall and proud and ready for
the fight
We must stand strong behind them through
their hard and arduous plight

Memorial Day
Of every year
The little valiant
Flags appear
On every fallen
Soldier's grave--
Symbol of what
Each died to save.
And we who see
And still have breath--
Are we no wiser
For their death?

Eulogy for a Veteran

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the Gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the mornings hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight,
I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.

JUST A COMMON SOLDIER

(A Soldier Died Today)
by A. Lawrence Vaincourt

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.

And tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

He will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

A politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.

© 1987 A. Lawrence Vaincourt

SOLDIER
By: Ed Coet, Major, USA-Retired

I saw a burial with a bugler playing taps;
I turned to my father, “what happened?” I asked.
He clutched my hand and with a quiver in his voice,
he began to explain and his eyes became moist.

“My son,” he said, “this is rather difficult for me;
for an old veteran like myself this is tough to see.
In that coffin lies a genuine patriotic warrior,
an honest-to-God hero, an American soldier.

I appreciate that soldier and the service he gave,
and I honor his sacrifice as he’s laid in his grave.
He was honorable, selfless, courageous, and bold;
please remember him son, as you grow old.

The value of his service, I must explain,
if not remembered, will be lost in vain.
As a nation we’re nothing without soldiers like him;
and failing to remember would be a terrible sin.”

I listened in awe as my father spoke,
it seemed as if his heart were broke.
I suddenly remembered when he went to war,
and when he returned I thought nothing more.

I never asked why he walked with a limp,
and I didn’t care about why he was sick.
I was to busy enjoying the life that I had,
to realize that I had it because of dad.

I finally understood what my dad was about,
and it hurt so bad I cried out loud.
He sacrificed so much so I could be free,
and his battle scares were suffered for me.

It was my father’s spirit that spoke to me that day;
thank God I finally understood what he had to say.
I saluted his coffin as they laid him to rest,
and I thought about the medals pinned on his chest.

That I didn’t honor him sooner, I will always regret;
and I pledged that day to never again forget.
I’m proud that my dad was a patriotic warrior;
I’m honored to be the son of an American soldier.

Piczo