Lest we Forget*

[Cyrille]

The Day After Christmas 1941

She stood there
in the train station;
sixteen years old
watching...

Watching
as he kissed
her mother
goodbye.

Waching, as tears
flooded her eyes, blurring
his image as he bent to kiss
her younger sister.

He turned, lifted her in the air...
"See you later, funny-face,"
they rubbed noses,
she gave him a brave smile,
he kissed her. put her down
"my young lady," he added smiling.

She stood there
watching
as he boarded the train
with his Navy buddies

Watching, wiping her eyes
with his embroidered handkerchief,
The "U.S.S. Lexington CV-2 in bold white
against a sea blue background...

Watching, waving
as the train
left
the station...

Knowing
somehow
She would never
see him again.

 

Cyrille

* This is why IMHO we can still worship and celebrate as we choose

[Pat B]

 
That is exactly why we still can!
  Lest we forget!

[JW_Halverson]

Amen.

[Grunt]

The Best Are Washed Away

The young march into the killing field
one step in their fate is sealed
fiercely fighting to the fray
and the best are washed away.

Virgin to the breech
oh God what do old men teach
honor, glory, with death young men pay
and the best are washed away.

Bouncing Betty, RPG, tomato can
one misstep will kill a man,
sail the sea of fate each day
and the best are washed away.

Ignore the death surround
the fight, the fight abound,
give no quarter night or day
and the best are washed away.

Some survive with body rent
on the field their spirit spent,
death was the price of life they say
and the best are washed away.

Some returned unscathed home
behind the mask routefoot roam,
anguish, anguish, feet of clay
and the best are washed away.

Those who play know no game,
life of rage, nothing is the same
for when the war tide recedes to day
all the best are washed away.



Rodger Jacobs
A Co. 1st Bn 9th Marines
The Walking Dead
Vietnam 1966- 1967

[Cyrille]

I will not answer this with tired cleches. But I will say---- The Best are NOT washed away, it is becuse of them, their sacrifice and their legecy that we are here today. We have lived our lives, the WWII veterans, The Korean War Veterans, the Viet Nam Veterans, The Cold War Crisis, Cubain Blockade Veterans. We did our part and now... Well that remains to be seen.