POEMS HONORING VETERANS

Arlington at Christmas

Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.
Know the line has held, your job is done.
Rest easy, sleep well.
Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.
Peace, peace, and farewell...

Readers may be interested to know that these wreaths -- some 5,000 -- are donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine. The owner, Merrill Worcester, not only provides the wreaths, but covers the trucking expense as well. He's done this since 1992. A wonderful guy. Also, most years, groups of Maine school kids combine an educational trip to DC with this event to help out. Making this even more remarkable is the fact that Harrington is in one the poorest parts of the state.

Our Freedom Isn’t Free
Written and recited for The NM Elks Lodge Flag Day Ceremony June 14th 2007
by Vanessa A. Griego Gulf War Veteran

I am a U.S veteran; the Armywas my choice. I’m grateful for this moment here to stand and speak my voice. The topic that I represent with pride and glory true, about the flag we know and love; the red, the white and blue. The flag still stands for freedom; for the strong and for the weak. To give us all the right we have to open up and speak. For Flag Day is an honor that we owe our happiness, to soldiers whom have served us well, in this country where we’re blessed.

The U.S flag we know and love Old Glory! Stars and Stripes! May under God, we always pledge, to stand for what is right. Our flag in which we put our faith, our love, our hopes and trust, this flag in which we should respect for righteous peace we must. A flag, that in so many lands, she's horribly abused. By being burned and torn apart, dishonored, and refused. The burning of our nations flag dishonors those who rest. For them I will defend her still and always do my best. To show the people of the world the good that we have done through battles of land, and air and sea, in victories we’ve won.

The colors of our nations flag depict a sacred song, like brothers names upon a wall as those of Vietnam. We’ve planted her on foreign lands in dirt with stains of red, forgetting not, Korean vets whose blood they also shed. The caring of, disabled vets, becomes our nations plight. For wounded heroes shine the way like peaceful stars of white. For World War two, a star of blue is hanging in the glass, while mothers mourn, upon a cross that rests above the grass.

I'm proud to be American, in knowing that I’m free, to men and women whom have served who gave that right to me. For every fallen soldier, and for every life they’d give to guarantee our freedom and the liberty we live. For those who served beside me and for those who serves us now, let us fly our flag up proudly and show other nations how. For a desert’s storm can blind a heart and make some turn their backs, but avenging souls of nine one, one (9*1*1) is why we’re in Iraq. We all need to come together, not divided but as one, to stand up tall to terrorists and show them how it's done!

It brings me such emotion when I think about the brave, the strength, the blood, the sweat and tears their lives in which they gave, for us to have a freedom that no other people know. A life without oppression, where our kids are free to grow. Our troops will have to travel far, with guns in hand, to face the war. They leave their loved ones far behind so we can be with yours and mine. To fly the flag in which we raise, some have to fill an honored grave, with blood they know they’ll have to shed, for stars and stripes of blue and red. The flag draped caskets that we see honoring the bold of those that stay forever young so we can still grow old. We give the flag with memories secured within its folds, to loved ones that are left behind, what’s left of those to hold. What glory and such honor! So brave! So strong! So young! Please rest yourselves in peace my friends, your duty here is done. And though you may not be a soldier fighting for your land their voice is crying from the grave, “Stand up and take a stand!” for of their death and sacrifice they bought a brand new day to wave the flag and raise your hand and let you have your say. So fly that flag with honor through whatever storms descend, that united we shall stand together and be faithful till the end. Until all our soldiers come from war, until the battle ends. Until everyone is safe at home, with family and friends, I shall fly my nations flag with joy for all the world to see that through serving all humanity our freedom isn’t free.

Strong
by Zach Turquand, 8th Grade, Parras Middle School

Leaving my family and friends
Shipped off to somewhere new
Where I feel like an alien
It is hard to leave my life behind
My family behind
It is for a good cause though
As long as I return

That’s my fear leaving my family behind forever
So I need to be strong, Army strong
Strong as an ox
Fight for my life and so many others
When I get into that fight, I know what to do
I know who I need to save

My mission complete and I am going home
I am strong after what I have seen
What I’ve done
I am so glad to get back to my family
Continue my life just as it began
I am so proud of my accomplishments
I am Army strong

When I walked into the airport
There were more people than stars in the sky
They cheered for me, thanked me
It was louder than a jet taking off
I was so excited I felt like I just won a billion dollars
I know what I did was right
What I did was Army strong

Freedom
by Ian Thompson, USMC

"I wish that you were here"
My wife whispers on the phone
Too many times
She has realized
That freedom is not free

"No go away, Daddy"
My little girl says
She’s barely two
But already knows
That freedom is not free

I have a little boy
Born three months ago
When I return
He’ll be near one
Since freedom is not free

My parents often worry
When I am away
They mourn for me
And what I miss
Since freedom is not free

There are children in this world
Rich and poor alike
Whose parents do
Not understand
That freedom is not free

There are men who face evil
For the sake of all
By their stand
We realize
That freedom is not free

There is a God Almighty
Nailed upon a cross
He paid the price
That we might live
For freedom is not free

Many days I am away
From those I love most
Yet I thank God
And carry on
For freedom is not free.

Hero's Deed

lyrics by Aaron Letrick, a professional singer/songwriter from NYC, and the son of a USMC Vietnam Veteran. He wrote this song for our brave soldiers and wishes to get it out and to them. His ultimate goal is to donate the proceeds to the families of fallen soldiers. http://www.myspace.com/aaronletrick

Mental distance, from a place that he calls home
He fights to free them, and loves them as his own
He hears the dark words, stories twisted, and the lies
He sees the truth get buried as the power hunt still thrives

(CHORUS)
A Heroes Deed…Selfless acts of valor
He’ll give his life to save a world that treats him like a failure
A Heroes need, Is not lost in battle
He knows he strives for truth and nothing else will matter

He has a vision, an unending sense of pride
His motivation, born of something deep inside
He sees the news from home; they’re carrying their signs
He wonders if they know they have that right
Because of what the signs decry

(CHORUS)

I never could afford to feel contempt for those with passion
Or climb on board the latest fashion
I never will be found outside burning flags or chanting
But when I know who’s wrong and right Ill stand beside
The hero that keeps us free
And only time will tell, what consequence awaits

Maybe we should recognize, the role the Hero plays
Rather than to criticize, lets find a better way

I never could attempt to feel a foreign type of passion
I’ll fight the latest Fascist
I never could be found outside burning flags or maybe chanting
But when I know who’s wrong or right Ill stand beside
The hero that keeps us free, Oh Lord I’m free!
The Heroes Deed will light the way
Don’t bring him down The Heroes Deed, The Heroes Deed

I am a military mother of an Army Reservist as well as being a Christian author. I would be honored if you considered using this poem in any way you see fit in support of our wounded...thank you, Lucy A Cain

Wounded Warriors

Lord, I cannot comprehend
The pain our soldiers endure
Or the sacrifice they make
To keep our freedom sure

May You dwell within them
And give them peace of mind
In their injured weakness, Lord
May it be Your strength they find

Draw them close to You
And answer their every doubt
Let them see You always near
Every time they want to shout

Only You know their thoughts
For You were always there
Never forsaking, Love abides
Always present, constant care

Silent heroes, wounded warriors
Ones that carry the pain
So I lift them up to You
To heal and make whole again

Parts of their bodies may be gone
But wholeness comes from within
You can use them, Lord
Just show them how and when

May they seek You daily, Lord
To get through life again
Embrace their hearts and minds
Wounded warriors will fight - and win

***

The enemy is now at hand
Depression, anger and pain
Use your training to face each one
And freedom from them gain

Warriors you will always be
Now fight for a different cause
The battle is the Lord's.
Think on that and pause

He's the Commander now
Your Eternal battle was won
The greatest Wounded Warrior
Was Jesus Christ, God's only Son

He lifted His eyes to God above
When pain was too hard to bear
He, too, thought he was forsaken
But God was always there

Stripes on His Holy back
Blood freely pouring down
He understands your every pain
And memories that cause a frown

He came out victorious
And can give you victory too
Rely on Him my wounded friends
Warriors, each one of you

I pray for courage and strength
To fight the battles ahead
Remember the Lord is near you
"I will never forsake thee!" He said

Lucy A Cain 7/07

Author, Secure the Fort (And Remain Under God), A Military Mother's Message to America Xlibris, 2007 http://securethefort.blogspot.com www.allgloryishis.com (See Under God page)

Lucy A. Cain

All Glory Is His Writing Ministry

www.allgloryishis.com

New release! "Secure the Fort (And Remain Under God), A Military Mother's Message to America ." Xlibris, July 2007 http://securethefort.blogspot.com