Heroes Die for Me
by Jamie Burns
I am the flag
I look down upon this land called America .
I have been here since this great nation was formed,
I have seen each battle fought
I have seen the heroes die for me, for my country
Thank you all those of you
Who have kept me flying in the breeze
Keeping this country united as one.
Thank you those of you who have sacrificed your lives,
Giving up all that I may still fly,
Watching over the citizens of this nation.
Thank you all those of you who have ever fought,
I am ever grateful for you.
You risked everything; you faced death each day,
Faced fear, faced many terrible things.
And because of you, my thank you's ring out,
Filling the sky, echoing from the hills
They find their way to the graveyards,
And to all of you still living,
You are a special kind of person.
To anyone who has ever served this country,
And to those serving today
Thank you.
As I watch life from atop my flagpole,
As I think of all you've done,
My feelings become too powerful for words
And all I can say is thank you.
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The Wall stretched on
A wedge glistening in the rain
Black as night ~
yet
Softened by the names thereon
We knew them not, but stood in awe
Realizing their sacrifice ~ their gift ~
Our hearts would surely break to know
These sons and daughters
Husbands and wives
and yes, mothers and fathers
Loved by so many ~ their lives taken
We prayed ~ our tears fell
Watching as trembling hands
Lovingly traced name after name
Not wanting to leave this place of honor
So connected in their grief
Flowers were left in tribute
American flags fluttered beside
Photographs of families left behind
Unused baseball tickets
A worn canteen
Young faces smiling, wearing jungle green
Letters of love and poems of praise
Children's drawings of thanks
Rosaries of every color left with love
No mistaking the dent in the earth
Where someone knelt to pray
And through this day and the hours to come
Nature washed the wall with her tears
As the names of more than 58,000
Echoed on the wind ~~~
God bless Them All !
"Semper Fidelis"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bartholomew Foulsteel
As for me, having lost Soldiers to combat, it tends to be a somewhat emotional day for me. And knowing that my guys are heading back out to harm's way doesn't make it any easier. I have presided over more than 30 full-honors military funerals--from current warriors to the Greatest Generation who survived the beaches of Normandy. I have presented the US Burial flag to Mothers, Wives, and even children. Memorial Day is far too real for me.
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Just like looking into a mirror...a haunting one at that...here's a cpl of brews for you and I bro...for Veterans & Memorial...all gave some, and some gave all...forever missed and never forgotten...