A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....5-30-06.... Memorial Day Revisited

5-30-06 | JustAmy

[JustAmy]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

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~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, GodBlessUSA, JustAmy ~

Memorial Day Band

The rhythm of the drums comes through,
The marching of the feet,
Sometimes a shrill reminder,
From the fife’s piercing tweet.

I stir a bit, as if to join,
The celebrators there,
But then I settle down again,
Like dust motes in still air.

There was a time I strode about,
And shouted with the boys,
A time when we were conquerors,
Equipped with brand new toys.

We leaped across the oceans!
We flew up in the air!
And girls looked down and smiled at us,
Encouraging our stare.

We would return. We knew it!
We were too young to die.
And so we took our weapons up,
And never asked them why.

Why would we study History?
What did we know of War?
We only did what young men do,
And what’s been done before.

But lately, I’ve been thinking.
I’ve had some time for that.
I should have studied more in school,
Not jumped at the drop of a hat.
Don’t get me wrong! I’m no coward!
I would still have gone, I’m sure,
But at least I could tell my buddies,
What it was we had tried to secure.

You see, there’s a dream that we live for,
And which we will die for, too.
This sleep that I’m sleeping reminds me,
That I ought to just share it with you.

I dreamed of a world full of wonder,
Where the walls were just marks on the land,
Of whose farms had the prettiest apples,
Or where showed our Grandfather’s hand.

And a gate was a door to a new place,
You could visit, if you’d mind to behave,
And a beach was one twin with a brother,
You could see just beyond that big wave.

I could walk into China like Polo,
And say Hi to the Emperor there,
And he’d smile and he’d say something funny,
And he’d tell me to pull up a chair.

Then we’d chat about silk and we’d chuckle,
And he’d beat me a lot playing chess,
And then finally I’d have to say so long,
You come visit my folks in the US.

I’d walk down the road where the world is,
I’d be glancing around at the view.
I’d be looking real hard for a nice place,
And for something important to do.

So I guess I shouldn’t complain, then,
Having fallen into this place,
I managed to live out a part of that dream,
And I’m here with a smile on my face.

It wasn’t the nicest real estate,
And it doesn’t have much of a view,
But I paid for it with the fame I sought,
And at least I’m important to you.

NicknamedBob . . . . . . . . . May 18, 2006


























Invisible Soldier

You can tell her by the twinkle in her eye,
At parades when the flag marches by.
She served our country and she served it very well.
Some have even served a tour or two in Hell.

She suffered hardship and never ceased to care.
It gave us strength just to know that she was there.
She was a leader, you could tell by the rank she wore,
But she became the invisible soldier after the war.

She can march, she can fly, and she can sail.
She proved that bravery isn't exclusive of the male.
She did every job she was asked and more,
But she became the invisible soldier after the war.

Now, it is finally time to right a wrong.
Honor our sister soldier; hear her song.
It's very clear that she's a patriot to the core.
Don't let her be the invisible soldier anymore.

...©1995 Sarge Lintecum













With My Shield, Or On It

I know it is upsetting,
To see things done this way.
Flag-draped caskets side by side,
They’re headed home today.

One thing you might not think about,
The view from the inside.
I’ve got some time now on my hands,
While on this final ride.

Sorry I didn’t write more,
Too late to fix that now.
I’ll try to be more scrupulous,
To get word out somehow.

There are no easy channels,
But I’m sure that you will know,
I don’t regret the choice I made,
And why I had to go.

You’d think perhaps the view from here,
Would be quite dark inside,
But it is light as light can be,
My burden’s been untied.

And I’ve been lifted up,
On angel wings I think,
And I’ve got every thing I need,
Except our kitchen sink.

I’d like to wash my hands once more,
And turn and get a hug.
I wish I could shake the hand of,
My best friend too, ya lug.

But all that stuff is over now,
I’ve got my new assignment,
Looks like I hitched my wagon to,
A different star alignment.

I know I always promised Mom,
I’d try to be real good,
Will someone please just let her know,
I did the best I could.

I have to go now, duty calls,
Think of me when you can,
The folks will think they lost their boy,
My buddies saw a man.

NicknamedBob . . . April 25, 2004
© 2004







............................................Graphics by MamaBear, Billie and St.Louie1

03-28-06 ~ Hall of Fame #15

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 05-29-06 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Majie Purple]

All together lovely Thread Thanks for remembering and honoring this way! H*U*G*S!!!!!

[stopem]

Thanks Billie, will try it in the next few days.

[stopem]

Oh my goodness, how beautiful, thank you!!

[Majie Purple]

[JustAmy]

Thank you for your kind words, Aqua!

Thank you for the WWII Memorial link.
When we were in DC, we went by but could not spend any time there.
With all the snow, it was impossible to walk around.
I hope to get back again.

Have a wonderful day.

[Majie Purple]

[Majie Purple]

Beautiful sparkly flower basket
for St.L;L & B!

[Majie Purple]

Thanks for the ping tou your # 28. Really neat!

[Majie Purple]

Love your # 37 today...

[Majie Purple]

Said so yesterday but it bears repeating
I also love your # 38...

[JustAmy]

Thank you, Dave.
We didn't get to any of the local ceremonies this year.
We got a late start and would have had to walk more than a mile to the cemetery.

Thank you for bringing your photo from Lakewood Memorial Park to today's thread.

Above image is from Memorial Day of 2004.

[ConorMacNessa]

GOD BLESS AND PROTECT OUR TROOPS!

---

"Teach us, good Lord, to serve Thee as Thou deservest; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do Thy will through Jesus Christ our Lord." Soldier's Prayer - Ignatius of Loyola

[JustAmy]

Wonderful story, Bro.

Thank you for the link to SERGEANT STUBBY.

*hugs*

[JustAmy]

Thank you, Warthogjm.

We thank the men and women who wear the uniform for their service.

God Bless and Protect each and every one of them.

[JustAmy]

Thank you, Billie.

Thank you for your contributions to today's thread.
You've helped make it beautiful.

[MEG33]

[JustAmy]

Beautiful, Billie.

We were near Vandenberg AFB in April. I wish we had known about this flag at that time. It is beautiful.

[Majie Purple]

http://thenaturalamerican.com/wind_talkers.htm

[Majie Purple]

http://www.ncbuffalosoldiers.org/history.asp

[Diver Dave]

Some quotes from The Modesto Bee's article this morning regarding the ceremony yesterday...

Hundreds of people, including family members of Stanislaus County residents recently killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, attended an afternoon event at Lakewood Memorial Park in Hughson.

As the Marine casualty officer for the area, Capt. Donn Puca is charged with notifying the families of Marines who have died in the line of duty.

At Lakewood, he praised the sacrifices of those Marines.

"They pay for our civil rights … with everything their futures might have been," he said. "I'm eternally grateful for that."

Several politicians presented commendations to the families of lost military personnel.

"I love my brother with all my heart," said Mike Simons, brother of Lance Cpl. Aaron William Si-mons. The 20-year-old died April 24 in al Qaim, during his second tour of duty in Iraq. "Though I didn't want him to go back, he wanted to serve alongside his brother Marines. I'll never forget him."

Marsha Gonsalves of Turlock, whose son, Army Sgt. 1st Class Chad Gonsalves, died this year in Afghanistan, admonished the crowd: "This is the land of the free, because of the brave. Let's never forget that."

...a view my neighbors get passing by the house...