Memorial Day

A National Moment of Remembrance
On Memorial Day

That poem about where "poppies blow"
And, "the crosses, row on row"
Still rings true, these ninety years
After written, still brings tears.

We still have Dead, "amid the guns"
And lose our young and our loved ones
Those who lived, "short days ago"
Who, "felt dawn, saw sunset glow".

In Flanders Fields, "the poppy red"
Still grow near where the blood was bled
They, "Take up our quarrel with the foe"
And still die for Freedoms that we know.

They pass, "The torch" to, "hold it high"
And not, "break the faith with us who die"
For they, "shall not sleep, though poppies grow"
Beneath all those, "crosses, row on row"
In Flanders Fields.

Del "Abe" Jones
4-25-2005

Many places and people lay claim to being first to celebrate our
Memorial Day but it is a time for all Americans to come together to
Honor our War Heroes from all Wars. A three day weekend when we should
all pause a moment to remember them. I have "stolen" some partial lines
from the famous poem "In Flanders Fields" written by Canadian John
McCrae in 1915.

MEMORIAL DAY

A time for picnics, time off work
Vacations and the "Indy"
A holiday, too often times
We forget what, it should be.

A time to pay respect to those
Who rallied to the battle cry
Who gave their lives for liberty
Those freedoms for you and I.

Such a waste of brave young souls
Some still struggling through their youth
Who faced and fell willingly
Before wartimes' awful truth.

So as we share this holiday
With our friends or family
Take a moment to give thanks to
Those who died so we'd stay free.

Let us strive for world peace
For the end of greed and hate
For next time, after "the war"
It just may be too damned late.

FREEDOMS' MEMORIAL

This day is set aside
to honor those
who took the chance to die.

But they have died in vain
if we ever forget
the reason why.

Freedom can be like time
slipping away
before we even know.

But we all have the choice
more, a duty
to battle freedoms' foe.

Let us give thanks this day
to all those brave
who paid the highest cost.

Not take it for granted
and realize
it easily could be lost.

Memorial Day

We've Troops around the World
Who put, their Life on the line
And sometimes give their All
For, Freedoms of yours and mine.

But now, it seems much different
We ask them, in another's name
To Protect their Freedoms, too
And Sacrifice, like it's the same.

But, you can't give Freedom away
It's something, you must embrace
And it may not always work
In, each and every time and place.

We can't change centuries of life
And ask our Troops to lead the way
To place their lives in jeopardy
Just because, the Politicians say.

But now, that we are in this mess
It must be seen through to the end
And a Prayer said, for those who die
Amongst those brave souls, we send.

It's so sad at this year's Tribute
We must add, all those Names we do
With the hope, that someday
All these Wars will be through.

A DIFFERENT CALLING

This year the "Memorial" has changed
It's different than those past
A different kind of war
From a different, "stone cast".

The battle is at Freedom's doorstep
With heroes of a different kind
Now, all of us are "Soldiers"
Against, the terrorists "sick" mind.

Civilians have always been
A part of every war
But, in this day and age
We must do, so much more.

If we expect to win this Battle
We must all join hands
In a strong, determined circle
With, Freedom lovers from all lands.

This world has changed forever
"The American Way"
There's so much more at stake
Than, the way we live and play.

Since 9-11 we're learning
The horrors of this world
Can even come to where
Freedoms Flag is, unfurled.

This day was meant to Honor
All, Military Heroes have endured
Now, we all could join their Ranks
If our resolve, is not assured.

So, let us all take a moment
To respect all those, "Fallen"
And vow, we're all up to the task
Of this, different "Calling".