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Memorial Day
"Your silent tents of green
We deck with fragrant flowers;
Yours has the suffering been,
The memory shall be ours."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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"THE CHILDREN FROM THE WALL"
Most of the Kids were Babies,
When their Dads went off to war.
It wasn't an unknown situation-
It has happened here before.
Their Dads didn't ask many questions,
Didn't choose the enemy or the fight.
But they knew that God would want them.
To do the thing that's right.
So many of the Fathers,
that marched off to Vietnam.
Would not come home-
to their dear Kids,
their Parents or their Moms.
And even the worst scenario,
and pain was still to bear.
The kids asked where is my Dad,
The Government knew not were.
And so these precious Children,
decided to learn about Vietnam.
They questioned all the Viet Vets,
Historians and their Moms.
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The Children found the answers,
The Country should have learned long ago.
When the Country says to fight
you fight-and let your prejudices go.
They found out just how really brave,
Their Daddy's had to be.
To stand and fight for freedom,
In a time of agony.
The Country split wide open,
We should-We shouldn't-We won't
They found in History where their
Daddy's fell-and Quietly picked up his Ruck.
And with their Daddy's heavy pack,
Shouldered center and in balance too-
They move on through History-
for the Country, and me and you.
So when I think of courage-
and I respect that most of all,
I think of my closest and dearest friends,
"The Children from the Wall."
~~ Danny L. ("Badger") Crafton ~~
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I Will Always Remember You
You were born in California
New York and Tennessee
You are every generations hope
of all that we can be
All this land between the oceans
Is the home that you defend
You're my mother, you're my daughter
My sister, my friend
No one ever had to ask you
It seemed you always knew
Standing up for what is right
Is all that you could do.
Not one to look the other way
You chose to serve with pride
And dared to cross the boundaries
Knowing God was on your side
And I will always remember you
For you remembered me.
Always there when I needed you
Always there to keep me free.
How could I ever forget you
You, who always came through
For duty, honor, country
I will always remember you
How you taught us strength and courage
And the will to never fail
And that through our every conflict
Somehow triumph would prevail
You made your peace with history
And stand among the brave
No more the unsung hero
For you our banners wave
~~ Gini Stern ~~
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Rest O Fallen One
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A POW/MIA PRAYER
"Father Your own Son was a Prisoner. On the Pledge of Allegiance
Condemned, He died for us,
Victorious, He returned to bring us
the gift of life everlasting.
Comfort us now in our longing for
the return of the Prisoners Of War
and those Missing In Action.
Help Us Father, inspire us to remove
the obstacles.
Give courage to those who know the
truth to speak out.
Grant wisdom to the negotiators,
and compassion to the jailors.
Inspire the media to speak out as
loudly as they have in the past.
Protect those who seek in secret
and help them to succeed,
Show us the tools to do your will,
Guard and bless those in captivity,
their families, and those who
work for their release.
Let them come home soon.
Thank You Father."
"Amen"
We Will Never Forget!!
As a schoolboy, one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the words andmeaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. Skelton later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his own.
I - - Me; an individual; a committee of one.
Pledge - - Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.
Allegiance - - My love and my devotion.
To the Flag - - Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of Freedom; wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.
United - - That means that we have all come together.
States - - Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that is love for country.
And to the Republic - - Republic--a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands
One Nation - - One Nation--meaning, so blessed by God.
Indivisible - - Incapable of being divided.
With Liberty - - Which is Freedom; the right of power to live one's own life, without threats, fear, or some sort of retaliation.
And Justice - - The principle, or qualities, of dealing fairly with others.
For All - - For All--which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.
And now, boys and girls, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that was a prayer, and should be eliminated from schools, too?
by Red Skelton
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I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
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