9-11…MAY WE NEVER FORGET

WITH THREE UNCLES WHO SERVED OUR GREAT COUNTRY, NOT TO MENTION A NEPHEW, AND MY BROTHER, WHO HAD JUST GONE BACK INTO THE SERVICE AFTER SERVING IN DESERT STORM AND ALSO BEING DEPLOYED TO A COUPLE OF OTHER PLACES, BUT THIS TIME AS A CIVILIAN DRIVER, (AT THE TIME I WROTE BOTH THIS PRESENTATION, WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN MY BOOK, “A WALK THROUGH MY SOUL”, AND THE VERSES THAT I WILL BE SHARING WITH EVERYONE), I GREW UP VERY PROUD OF OUR BRAVE SERVING MEN AND WOMEN.

THOSE OF US HERE AT HOME SELDOM TAKE THE TIME TO WONDER AT THE HARDSHIPS AND HEARTACHES THAT FACE THOSE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN EVERY DAY.

WE GET SO WRAPPED UP IN ENJOYING OUR FREEDOMS, THAT WE GIVE LITTLE THOUGHT TO THE ONES WHO FIGHT TO PROTECT THOSE FREEDOMS.

WELL, I JUST WANT ANY SERVICE MEN OR WOMEN WHO MIGHT HAPPEN TO READ THIS BLOG, OR PERHAPS THEIR FAMILIES, TO KNOW THAT THERE IS ONE LITTLE BITTY, “A LITTLE PAST THE AGE OF MAJORITY” LIGHT OUT HERE THAT HASN’T GONE OUT YET!

I STILL BELIEVE IN EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND YOU ARE IN MY HEART AND PRAYERS EVERY DAY. I CANNOT SERVE BESIDE YOU LIKE I WOULD BE PROUD TO DO, BUT I CAN OFFER YOU MORAL SUPPORT.

THAT IS WHY I WAS ABLE TO WRITE THE FOLLOWING VERSES, ALL OF WHICH WERE WRITTEN BETWEEN 9-11 AND WHEN I PUBLISHED THE BOOK MENTIONED ABOVE. I WILL BE POSTING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE VERSES ON THIS PAGE.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN BOTH THE VICTIMS AND THOSE SERVING THIS COUNTRY WERE ON MY MIND, A VERSE WOULD FORM, AND A NEW POEM WOULD BE BORN.

I JUST WANT YOU ALL WHO MIGHT READ THIS WHO ARE U.S. SERVICE MEN OR WOMEN TO KNOW HOW VERY PROUD I AM OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. I PRAY GOD WILL STAND BESIDE YOU AND PROTECT YOU EVERY DAY THAT YOU ARE AWAY.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!

AMBER MICHELLE

***

9-11

THIS VERSE IS MEANT TO SHOW WHY WE ARE CURRENTLY AT WAR

ON 9-11, THAT SAD, SAD DAY

THE WORLD ALL WATCHED IN SHOCK,

AS NEWS REPORTS STARTED COMING IN,

FOR DAYS AROUND THE CLOCK.

AT FIRST WE WATCHED IN SHOCK AND ANGER

AS THE TWIN TOWERS BEGAN TO FALL,

THEN THE PLANE WENT DOWN IN THAT FIELD.

(OUR FOLKS WERE HEROES, ONE AND ALL).

A PLANE CRASHED IN THE PENTAGON,

THE DAMAGE THERE WAS GREAT,

ALL THIS WAS CAUSED BY ENEMIES,

WHOSE SOULS WERE FILLED WITH HATE.

THE TROOPS BEGAN TO GATHER,

TO GO TO A FOREIGN LAND,

AFTER WHAT HAD BEEN DONE TO US,

WE WERE GOING TO MAKE A STAND.

WE TOOK THE BATTLE TO THEIR HOME GROUND,

WE WERE GOING TO RAISE SUCH A FUSS,

THAT THEY WOULD ALL HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS,

BEFORE THEY AGAIN TRIED ATTACKING US.

THIS WAR THAT I AM WRITING ABOUT,

HAS DRUG ON THROUGHOUT THE YEARS,

MANY ARE THE LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN LOST,

AS THE NATION CRIED A RIVER OF TEARS.

MANY SAY THAT WE SHOULD ALL WITHDRAW,

BUT THAT SIMPLY MUST NOT BE ALLOWED,

FOR THOUGH OUR SPIRITS MAY BE BLOODIED,

THIS NATIONS HEADS ARE STILL UNBOWED!

***

THE RECRUIT

A YOUNG MAN, STANDING TALL,

BRAVELY ANSWERED HIS COUNTRY’S CALL.

THROUGH BRUTAL TRAINING IN RAIN AND MUD,

THROUGH HEAVY PACKS, BRUISES, AND BLOOD.

THROUGH HUMILIATION, AND LATE HOURS,

HE GREW STRONG TO PROTECT THIS COUNTRY
OF OURS.

FINALLY THERE CAME THE DAY,

WHEN THE NEW SOLDIER WENT AWAY.

HIS HEAD HELD HIGH, ORDERS IN HAND,

HE HEADED OFF TO A FOREIGN LAND.

ONCE THERE HE SAW TO HIS SURPRISE

SCENES WHICH BROUGHT TEARS TO HIS EYES.

COMRADES FALLING LEFT AND RIGHT

BUT HE COULD NOT MOURN AS HE HAD TO FIGHT.

MANY WERE THE FRIENDS MADE THERE,

AND DURING THE LULLS, THEY’D GATHER IN PRAYER.

EACH NIGHT WHEN THE SOLDIER WENT TO BED,

HE’D KNEEL DOWN FIRST AND BOW HIS HEAD.

WHAT WAS IN THOSE PRAYERS ONLY GOD
COULD DISCERN,

BUT HE SURELY PRAYED FOR A SAFE RETURN.

THEN ONE DAY CAME WORD HE’D NO MORE FOREIGN SOIL ROAM,

HIS PRAYERS HAD BEEN ANSWERED, HE WAS
GOING HOME.

***

A SOLDIERS LIFE

A SOLDIER BRAVELY ANSWERED THE CALL,

LEAVING FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES ALL,

TO GO TO FIGHT IN A FOREIGN LAND,

FOR FREEDOMS CAUSE HE MAKES A STAND.

THROUGH ENEMY FIRE HE MARCHES ON,

WHILE MOURNING COMRADES FALLEN AND GONE.

YET STILL HE CLINGS HARD TO HIS TASK,

GIVING MORE THAN ANYONE SHOULD ASK.

THEN COMES THE DAY, O SAD, SAD ONE,

WHEN THE SOLDIERS LIFE IS ABRUPTLY DONE.

AN ENEMY BULLET HAS TAKEN HIS LIFE,

LEAVING BEHIND HIS TWO CHILDREN AND WIFE.

O BRAVE SOLDIER, YOU GAVE YOUR ALL,

NO SHAME OR BLAME ON YOU SHALL FALL,

RATHER WE PAUSE TO HONOR YOU,

WHO BRAVELY FOUGHT FOR CAUSES TRUE,

TALES OF YOUR BRAVERY SHALL BE TOLD,

TILL YOUR YOUNG CHILDREN ALL GROW OLD.

(This verse won me a standing ovation from fifty four VFW and American Legion personnel and five editor’s choice awards through Poetry.com.)

***

BENEDICTION

O BRAVE SOLDIERS WHO GAVE YOUR LIVES,

ON FOREIGN SOIL SO FAR AWAY,

LEAVING BEHIND HUSBANDS, CHILDREN, AND WIVES,

WE GRATEFULLY HONOUR YOU EACH DAY.

THOUGH YOU WALK NOW AT THE SAVIORS SIDE,

YOU BEAR NO SHAME IN ANY WAY,

IN CHRISTS’ SWEET PRESENCE NOW SAFELY ABIDE,

THIS FOR YOU ALL WE EARNESTLY PRAY.

AND FOR YOUR COMRADES LEFT BEHIND,

EACH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE,

WE PRAY WITH A SINGLE THOUGHT IN MIND,

LET THEM COME HOME WHEN THIS WAR IS DONE.

***

THE SENTRY

SITTING ALONE ATOP A HILL,

TRAINED TO FIGHT, TRAINED TO KILL.

GUARDING WATCHFULLY EVERY DAY,

AGAINST THOSE WHO TAKE OUR FREEDOM AWAY.

DAY AND NIGHT THE BATTLE THEY WAGE,

WHILE A SINGLE MOMENT CAN LAST AN AGE.

BOMBS EXPLODE, TRACERS FILL THE AIR,

HEARTS NOT HARDENED FILL WITH DESPAIR.

COMRADES FALL ALONG THE WAY,

(BACK HOME ANOTHER HEART’S BROKEN TODAY).

GOING FOR HOURS ON LITTLE SLEEP,

A FAITHFUL VIGIL EACH WARRIOR DOTH KEEP.

WE HONOUR YOU, O FAITHFUL ONES,

SURROUNDED BY ENEMIES AND GUNS,

OUR PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL OF YOU,

THAT YOU COME HOME SAFELY WHEN THIS WAR
IS THROUGH.

***

THE WREATH

ON A DOOR IN MY HOMETOWN,

THERE HANGS A FUNERAL WREATH,

IT TELLS OF HEARTS BROKEN DOWN,

BY A DEEP, HEARTRENDING GRIEF.

YES, THIS WREATH IT TELLS A STORY,

OF FAR AND DISTANT LANDS,

OF PAIN, AND LOSS, AND GLORY,

EARNED IN JUNGLES AND DESERT SANDS.

IT TELLS OF TEARS SHED IN THE NIGHT,

OF HEARTS MADE HEAVY WITH GRIEF,

FOR FRIENDS LOST IN THE FIGHT,

AND HORRORS SEEN BEYOND BELIEF.

IT TELLS OF THAT FINAL DAY,

WHEN THE BRAVE SOLDIER FELL,

THE HORRORS HE FACED NO MORE HELD SWAY,

FREED FROM A LIFE OF HELL.

HE LIES NOW BENEATH THE SOD,

BENEATH A CROSS OF WHITE,

GONE NOW TO BE WITH GOD,

THE BATTLE NO MORE THE FIGHT.

YES, THIS WREATH, IT TELLS A TALE,

OF A HERO WHO HAS GONE HOME,

OF A HERO WHO HAS CROSSED THE VEIL,

THIS EARTH NO MORE TO ROAM.

IT HONORS THAT BRAVE SOUL,

WHO FOR FREEDOMS CAUSES FOUGHT,

HE WHO PAID THE FINAL TOLL,

IN THE BATTLE WAR HAD WROUGHT.

SO WHEN YOU SEE A FUNERAL WREATH,

HANGING ON A STRANGERS DOOR,

SAY A PRAYER FOR HEARTS THAT ARE FILLED
WITH GRIEF,

AND FOR THE SOUL WHO WALKS THIS EARTH NO MORE.

***

THE POINT

A SOLDIER MARCHED AT POINT ONE DAY,

TRYING TO FIND THE SAFEST WAY,

FOR THOSE BEHIND HIM TO SAFELY PASS,

THE MANY TRAPS HIDDEN IN THE GRASS,

HE’D DONE THE SAME OFTEN IN THE PAST,

BUT TODAY HIS LUCK RAN OUT AT LAST.

A PIECE OF WIRE, THIN AND FINE,

WAS THE TRIGGER TO A MINE,

THE MINE EXPLODED, THE BRAVE SOLDIER FELL,

BUT OF THIS TALE THERE’S MORE TO TELL,

FOR HIS COMRADES CAME AND CARRIED HIM HOME,

TO THEIR CAMP, WITH A SHATTERED BONE.

AT FIRST HE THOUGHT THERE WAS SOME MISTAKE,

WHEN THEY SAID HIS LEG THEY’D HAVE TO TAKE.

DURING HIS RECOVERY, HIS SOUL SUNK IN DESPAIR,

THAT HE EVEN LIVED, HE DID NOT CARE.

THEN GRADUALLY THERE CAME THE DAY,

WHEN THE DESPAIR BEGAN TO GO AWAY.

“I DID MY BEST,” TO HIS SOUL HE CRIED,

“I STILL CAN HOLD MY HEAD UP IN PRIDE.

THOUGH I CAN NO LONGER FIGHT, I CAN STILL
BE PROUD,

FOR I MAY BE BLOODIED, BUT MY HEAD’S UNBOWED!”

***

THE VET

THERE IS NO TICKER-TAPE PARADE

TO THE WEARY SOLDIER GREET,

THE LONG JOURNEY THAT HE’S MADE,

ON HIS TIRED, WEARY FEET.

HIS SAD AND WEARY HEART,

HIDES LOSSES GREAT AND SMALL,

FROM COMRADES HE’S APART,

SOME WHO’LL NEVER COME HOME AT ALL.

SAY A PRAYER FOR THIS MAN SO BRAVE,

WITH HIS SAD AND WAR TORN SOUL,

WHO’S SOUL IS SO BLEAK AND GRAVE,

THAT HE MIGHT SOME DAY BE WHOLE.

***

OUR COUNTRY

IN OUR GREAT COUNTRY WE OFTEN FORGET

ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WE’VE NEVER MET

WHO DAILY LAY THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE

TO PROTECT THE FREEDOM THAT’S YOURS AND MINE.

TO THEM IT’S A DIRTY JOB THAT MUST BE DONE,

SO THEY BATTLE ON FROM SUN TO SUN.

MANY BRAVE SOULS GIVE UP THEIR LIVES,

LEAVING BEHIND HUSBANDS, CHILDREN, AND WIVES.

MANY ARE THOSE WHO COME BACK CHANGED,

THEIR LIVES AND FUTURES RE-ARRANGED.

SO NEXT TIME YOU MEET A SERVICE MAN,

AT LEAST SAY THANK YOU AND SHAKE THEIR HAND.

***

THE LETTER

TODAY A SOLDIER GOT A LETTER,

FROM HIS LOVING WIFE SO FAR AWAY,

SAYING HOW SHE PRAYED FOR HIM,

EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THE LETTER WENT ON TO SAY

(IT MADE HIM BOTH HAPPY AND SAD,

THAT HE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN THERE,

HE HAD AGAIN BECOME A DAD).

HIS OLDEST HAD JUST STARTED SCHOOL,

(THE SOLDIER WIPED AWAY A TEAR,

FOR HE HAD NOT SEEN HIS HOME,

IN ALMOST A YEAR).

THE LETTER ENDED WITH A PRAYER,

FOR HIS SAFE RETURN,

HOW FOR HIS LOVING PRESENCE,

HIS FAMILY ALL DID YEARN.

THE LETTERS FINAL WORDS,

WERE…”NOT IF, BUT WHEN,

YOU FINALLY COME HOME TO US,

AND I HOLD YOU ONCE AGAIN,

KNOW JUST THAT I LOVE YOU,

THAT YOU’RE ALWAYS IN MY HEART,

AND I SILENTLY PRAY FOR THE DAY,

WHEN WE’RE NO LONGER APART.”

THE SOLDIER FOLDED THE LETTER,

NEXT TO HIS HEART IT DID HE PLACE,

THEN HE RE-PICKED UP HIS GUN,

THE WAR ONCE AGAIN TO FACE.

***

FRIENDSHIP

THE BONDS OF FRIENDSHIP FORMED IN WAR,

ARE UNLIKE ANY OTHER,

THE MAN WHO FIGHTS BESIDE OF YOU,

SOON BECOMES MUCH LIKE A BROTHER.

SIDE BY SIDE YOU FIGHT EACH DAY,

WHILE THE BATTLE RAGES ON,

BATTLE-WEARY, YOU REST EACH NIGHT,

AND DREAD EACH COMING DAWN.

DURING RARE TIMES OF SILENCE,

YOU SHARE EACH OTHERS FEARS,

UNASHAMED, YOU CONSOLE EACH OTHER,

WHEN YOU SHED HEARTBROKEN TEARS.

LETTERS FROM HOME ARE SHARED AROUND,

FOR AWHILE YOUR HEART IS GLAD,

FOR YOU JUST FOUND OUT TODAY,

YOUR FRIEND BECAME A DAD.

YES, THE BONDS THAT ARE FORMED IN WAR,

OFTEN PROVE TO BE LOYAL AND TRUE,

THE VERY BEST FRIEND YOU’VE EVER HAD,

COULD BE THERE RIGHT NEXT TO YOU.

***

JOURNEY’S END

A HEART IS SILENTLY BREAKING,

FOR A LOVED VOICE NO LONGER HEARD,

LONELY TEARS ARE SHED THAT NIGHT,

FOR THAT DAY SHE GOT THE WORD.

HALF HER HEART IS GONE NOW,

HALF HER SOUL IS LAID TO REST,

THE ONLY SOLACE THAT SHE HAS,

IS HE WALKS NOW WITH THE BLESSED.

A WREATH NOW HANGS UPON HER DOOR,

FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE,

THAT A SOUL HAS GONE HOME,

OF THIS WORLD’S TRIALS FINALLY FREE.

YES, A BATTLE WITH LIFE HAS ENDED,

A SOUL WENT HOMEWARD BOUND,

THAT FINAL JOURNEY TAKEN,

THEN LAID TO REST BENEATH THE GROUND.

BENEATH A CROSS OF WHITE,

BENEATH THE GENTLE SOD,

THAT FINAL JOURNEY TAKEN,

TO BE AT HOME WITH GOD.

***

THE RETURN

SHE GOT A LETTER THE OTHER DAY,

FROM THE LOVE OF HER HEART AND SOUL,

“I MISS YOU, MY LOVE, IN EVERY WAY,

WITHOUT YOU MY HEART’S NOT WHOLE,

OFTEN I LAY AWAKE AT NIGHT,

WHEN THE DAYS FIGHTING IS DONE,

THOUGHTS OF YOU MAKE MY HEART LIGHT,

WHEN A LULL COMES WITH THE SETTING SUN.

MY SWEETEST HEART, I LOVE YOU,

AND AS I GAZE UP AT A FOREIGN MOON,

I PRAY EACH NIGHT I’LL MAKE IT THROUGH,

AND THAT I’LL BE HOME SOON.”

SHE READ THE LETTER EVERY NIGHT,

BEFORE SHE WENT TO BED,

HER LAST THOUGHT OF HIM AS SHE SHUT OFF
THE LIGHT,

AND LAY DOWN HER WEARY HEAD.

SHE READ THE LETTER ONCE MORE,

WITH THE RISING OF THE SUN,

THEN THERE WAS A KNOCKING ON THE DOOR,

THE SOLDIER HAD FINALLY COME.

***

THE FLAG

A FLAG FLEW PROUDLY AT HIS HOME,

ON THE DAY THAT HE WAS BORN,

AND ALSO PROUDLY AT HIS SCHOOL,

WHERE HE LEARNED THE GOLDEN RULE.

AND THEN UPON THAT FATEFUL DAY,

UPON THE WALL IN PROUD DISPLAY,

HANGING THERE TO BE SEEN BY ALL,

THE DAY HE ANSWERED FREEDOMS CALL.

IN DESERT HEAT OR JUNGLE DEW,

ABOVE HIS HEAD THAT PROUD FLAG FLEW.

AND THEN CAME THE DAY HIS BATTLE ENDED,

AND ON HIS FINAL JOURNEY HE WENDED,

HIS WAY BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN,

NO MORE TO FIGHT IN A FOREIGN LAND.

ONCE MORE THE FLAG TOUCHED ON HIS LIFE,

FREED NOW FROM ALL STRESS AND STRIFE,

DRAPED ACROSS HIS COFFIN, THE SOLDIER’S HOME,

THIS WORLD OF STRIFE NO MORE TO ROAM.

O PROUD FLAG, MAY YOU EVER FLY,

YOUR COLORS BRIGHT AGAINST THE SKY,

MAY YOU SAIL ABOVE THE LAND OF THE FREE,

AND WHEREVER OUR BRAVE TROOPS MIGHT BE.

YOU STAND FOR FREEDOM AND SO MUCH MORE,

IN PROUD DISPLAY FROM SHORE TO SHORE,

SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT TO SEE,

FLYING AGAINST THE SKY, FOREVER FREE.

***

SUNRISE

WHEN THE SUN RISES EACH DAY,

ON THE BATTLEFIELD SO FAR AWAY,

A SOLDIER WARILY OPENS HIS EYES,

THEN BLINKS THEM IN GRATEFUL SURPRISE,

THAT HE CAN WITNESS WHEN THE SUN ARRIVED,

AND THAT ANOTHER DAY OF WAR HE SURVIVED.

O, SAY A PRAYER FOR THIS BRAVE SOUL,

WHO’S FAITH IS ALL THAT KEEPS HIM WHOLE.

***

THE HEROES

SOLDIERS MARCHING BRAVELY,

THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT SAND,

FIGHTING BRAVELY FOR JUSTICE,

THESE MEN AND WOMEN MAKE A STAND.

AGAINST INJUSTICE AROUND THE WORLD,

THESE BRAVE SOLDIERS FIGHT,

BATTLING WRONG FROM DAY TO DAY,

STRUGGLING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.

THEY ALL ARE SHINING HEROES,

MEN AND WOMEN, ONE AND ALL,

THESE BRAVE SOULS WHO RISK THEIR LIVES,

TO ANSWER FREEDOMS CALL.

***

FAITH

TOSSING FITFULLY WITH TROUBLED DREAMS,

BOMBS EXPLODE BEHIND HIS EYES,

JERKING AWAKE TO THE SOUND OF SCREAMS,

FROM A TROUBLED COMRADE, HE SILENTLY CRIES.

SO VERY YOUNG, THIS TROUBLED SOUL,

TO HAVE WITNESSED THE HORRORS EACH DAY
HAS BROUGHT,

THIS WAR HAS TORN AND LEFT HIS MIND UNWHOLE,

AND A DEEP SENSE OF GLOOM IN HIS HEART
HAS CAUGHT.

FIGHTING INSIDE AND OUT JUST TO STAY TOGETHER,

ONLY HIS FAITH HELPS TO KEEP HIM WHOLE,

HOLDING TIGHTLY TO CHRIST HELPS HIM TO WEATHER,

THE INTERNAL BATTLE THAT IS TAKING IT’S TOLL.

***

SALUTATION

TODAY WE COME TO HONOR,

THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES,

LEAVING BEHIND THE GRIEVING,

HUSBANDS, CHILDREN, AND WIVES.

NO MATTER WHERE THE BATTLEFIELD,

THESE BRAVE SOLDIERS FOUGHT,

TO BRING PEACE TO WAR-TORN LANDS,

IN MANY BATTLES THEY WERE CAUGHT.

O BRAVE SOLDIERS WHO BATTLED,

TO CHANGE WRONG INTO RIGHT,

WE HONOR YOU IN HEART AND SOUL,

YOU’RE ALL HERO’S IN OUR SIGHT.

***

THE PRAYER

A SOLDIER LIES AWAKE ONE NIGHT,

RESTLESS BENEATH A FOREIGN MOONS LIGHT,

TIRED AND WEARY, YET HE CANNOT REST,

EVEN THOUGH HE TRIES HIS VERY BEST.

ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT HIS WEARY THOUGHTS RACE,

ON ALL OF WARS HORRORS HE’S SEEN TAKING PLACE,

HE PRAYS TO GOD, “IF YOU SEE MY PLIGHT,

YOU’LL KNOW HOW WEARY I AM OF THIS WAR I FIGHT.

AS I LAY HERE LOOKING AT STARS AND MOON,

I PRAY YOU’LL LET ME GO HOME SOON.

I PRAY YOU’LL LET ME SURVIVE ANOTHER DAY,

THAT I MIGHT SOON HEAR MY CAPTAIN SAY

‘THIS FOREIGN SOIL YOU’LL NO MORE ROAM,

YOUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED, YOU’RE
GOING HOME’”

***

PRAYER FOR THE SOLDIERS

I PRAY EACH DAY FOR OUR SOLDIERS,

WHO NOW ON FOREIGN SOIL DO ROAM,

MAY SOME GLAD AND GLORIOUS DAY,

EACH AND EVERY ONE COME HOME.

I PRAY FOR OUR BRAVE WOUNDED,

WHO BRAVELY GAVE THEIR ALL,

THOSE VALIANT, COURAGEOUS SOULS,

WHO ANSWERED FREEDOMS CALL.

I PRAY FOR ALL THOSE FALLEN,

WHO BRAVELY GAVE THEIR LIVES,

LEAVING BEHIND THE GRIEVING,

HUSBANDS, CHILDREN, AND WIVES.

YES, I PRAY EACH DAY FOR OUR SOLDIERS,

FOR EACH AND EVERY SOUL,

BUT I PRAY HARD AND MOST OF ALL,

THAT THIS WAR HASN’T TAKEN TOO HARD A TOLL.

***

THE DREAM PRAYER

LORD, I PRAY YOU’LL LET OUR SOLDIERS,

THOSE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN, ONE AND ALL,

COME BACK HOME VERY, VERY SOON,

ALL THOSE WHO ANSWERED FREEDOMS CALL.

I HAD A DREAM THE OTHER NIGHT,

WHEN EVERYTHING WAS STILL,

THAT ALL OF OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS,

WHO FOR FREEDOMS CAUSE FIGHT AND KILL,

I DREAMED THAT THEY ALL CAME HOME,

NO LONGER THE WAR TO FIGHT,

NONE OF THEM WERE WOUNDED,

ALL OF THEM WERE ALL RIGHT.

LORD, I PRAY THIS DREAM WILL COME TRUE,

YES, I PRAY FOR ONE AND ALL,

THAT SOMEDAY SOON YOU’LL ALL COME HOME,

ALL OF YOU WHO ANSWERED FREEDOMS CALL.

***

VIGILANCE

SKIMMING LIGHTLY THROUGH THE CLOUDS,

FLYING HIGH ABOVE THE EARTHBOUND CROWDS,

PROTECTING US FROM THINGS THAT WE DESPISE,

FLYING VIGILANTLY THROUGH FOREIGN SKIES.

DAY AND NIGHT THE BATTLE THEY WAGE,

AGAINST ENEMIES WHO ARE FILLED WITH RAGE,

YES, IN AND OUT OF THE CLOUDS THEY GO,

PROTECTING THOSE ON EARTH BELOW.

***

ARLINGTON

A SEA OF SILENT WHITE CROSSES,

UPON A VERDANT FIELD OF GREEN,

BELOVED VOICES NO LONGER HEARD,

TREASURED FACES NO LONGER SEEN.

THIS FIELD, A PLACE OF HISTORY,

TELLS TALES OF FAR AND DISTANT LANDS,

THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER,

A SILENT SENTINEL FOREVER STANDS.

IF THESE VOICES COULD SPEAK, THEY’D TELL,

A TALE OF GREAT BATTLES LOST AND WON,

A TALE OF GREAT COURAGE AND DESPAIR,

OF BATTLING VALIANTLY FROM SUN TO SUN.

THEY’D TELL OF WATCHING COMRADES FALL,

OF LOSING GOOD FRIENDS IN THE FIGHT,

OF PRAYING TO THE GOOD LORD ABOVE,

TO GUIDE AND GET THEM THROUGH THE NIGHT.

THEY WOULD TELL OF ALL THE TEARS CRIED,

FOR EACH AND EVERY LIFE THAT WAS LOST,

IN THE GREAT FIGHT FOR FREEDOMS CAUSE,

THAT CAME AT SUCH A HIGH COST.

YES, EACH CROSS REPRESENTS A HERO,

WHO LIES NOW BENEATH THE SOD,

A HERO WHO’S BATTLE WITH LIFE HAS ENDED,

WHO HAS GONE HOME TO BE WITH GOD.

***

MY SOLEMN PRAYER

I SAID A PRAYER FOR YOU TODAY,

ALL YOU SOLDIERS SO FAR AWAY.

I PRAYED GOD WOULD HOLD YOU IN HIS HAND,

AND THAT IN HIS PRESENCE YOU’D ALWAYS STAND.

I PRAYED HE’D BE WITH YOU EVERY DAY,

AND KEEP YOU SAFELY FROM HARMS WAY.

I PRAYED THAT NO MATTER WHERE YOU ROAM,

HE’D LEAD ALL OF YOU BACK SAFELY HOME.

***

LONG AGO

IN A LAND SO FAR AWAY,

MANY, MANY YEARS AGO,

A WAR FOR FREEDOMS CAUSE WAS FOUGHT,

BY A FRIEND WHOM I NOW KNOW.

HE WATCHED FRIENDS BLOOD SOAK FOREIGN GROUND,

BUT HE COULD NOT MOURN, AS HE HAD TO FIGHT,

YET HIS FALLEN FRIENDS DEATHS OFTEN HAUNTED HIM,

FAR INTO THE COLD DARK NIGHT.

AND NOW MANY YEARS HAVE PASSED,

AND THE FALLEN FRIENDS COME STILL NOW AND THEN,

HE PRAYS EACH NIGHT THAT SUCH A WAR,

WILL NEVER COME TO PASS AGAIN.

***

MY HEARTFELT PRAYER

FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN LOST,

AND ALL WHO STILL FIGHT ON,

HEARTBROKEN BY THE HORRORS OF WAR,

DREADING EACH COMING DAWN.

JUST KNOW YOU’RE NOT FORGOTTEN,

IN JUNGLE AND DESERT SANDS,

RATHER YOU ARE PRAYED FOR,

IN YOUR FIGHT TO HELP WAR-TORN LANDS.

YES, A PRAYER GOES UP EVERY DAY,

FOR THE ONE THING FOR WHICH YOU YEARN,

THAT YOU ALL MAY GET THROUGH SAFE,

AND THAT YOU MAY RETURN.

SO TILL THAT HAPPY DAY COMES,

I PRAY FOR ONE AND ALL,

MAY GOD BE WITH YOU EVERY DAY,

AS YOU ANSWER FREEDOMS CALL.

***

DECEMBER SEVENTH

DECEMBER SEVENTH, NINETEEN FORTY-ONE

A DAY THAT SHALL LIVE IN INFAMY,

ON THAT DAY THE BRAVE SHIP U. S. S. ARIZONA,

SANK DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA.

MANY SOULS WERE ON BOARD THAT DAY,

STEADFAST AND READY TO DEFEND,

BUT FATE HAD OTHER PLANS IN STORE,

MANY LOST THEIR LIVES E’RE THAT DAY DID END.

THE JAPANESE CAME IN FLYING LOW,

BOMBS AND TORPEDOES THEY LET FALL,

BY THE TIME THE SMOKE HAD CLEARED,

MEN AND SHIP WERE GONE, ONE AND ALL.

OF ALL THE MEN ON BOARD THAT DAY,

VERY FEW LUCKY ONES COULD THEY SAVE,

THE SHIP LIES NOW, SILENT AND STILL,

FOR THOSE BRAVE MEN A WATERY GRAVE.

MAY WE NEVER, EVER FORGET THOSE WHO DIED ON THIS DAY…

AND ARE STILL DYING BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED ON IT.

GOD BLESS ALL WHO READ THIS

AND

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

SIGNED AS MYSELF

JAN MARIE PARUPIA