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Vietnam Veteran's Memorial
| Open Poetry #41 |
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Vietnam Veteran's Memorial |
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Abe Senior Member
since 2003-05-28
Posts 694Looks like Vero Beach, FL until the end! 
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I had the honor of helping to set up "The Wall That Heals", a half-sized replica of "The Wall" in Washington, at the VFW in Dickson, TN.This year is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the dedication of "The Wall". FOR A QUARTER CENTURY They are listed in the order Of the way our Heroes fell Behind each name many stories That, they never got to tell. Millions have read those names Many, loved ones and friends A Memorial to all those lost And the pain which never ends. There's those Missing in Action And space for those yet to die Their names added as they fall As many still ask the question, Why?” “The Wall” is above those politics Which have come with every war But, those who fight them know What, their Sacrifice is really for. We must never forget those Heroes Etched there, in that black stone And all Americans should visit them To show, they will never be alone. A quarter century it has stood To Honor those who gave their all Who marched off into the battle When, they heard their Country's call. 08.24.2007 a couple older ones > VOICES FROM THE WALL Many loved ones and friends Carved in that cold, black stone But, inside that huge Monument We know they're safe and not alone. There are many thousands in that Wall And each year we must sadly, add a few With the average age of War casualties Twenty-three, and as young as sixteen, too. Those Heroes who died in that War Finally, given Honors they deserved With the Memorial in Washington But, with many spaces still reserved. This replica, which travels 'round So all people have the chance to see To touch it and maybe shed a tear About this era of our History. Maybe there, amongst those names You may have a friend or a loved one You can make a “rubbing” image of it And take it with you, when you're done. This Wall brings those lost to us A bit closer, and the loss more real To those who didn't lose someone And gives them too, the chance to feel. Every citizen should see it once To realize just what War can cost Not in dollars, but pain and suffering And all these thousands of lives lost. Sadly, we are at it once again And someday will need another place Where we can etch names of those killed Where other folks have names to trace. Maybe someday the need for people To fight and kill their fellow man Will be replaced with World Peace Hopefully, that is in, some plan. But till then we have these Monuments To show our thanks for those who Served A small token of our gratitude Not nearly what, they all, deserved. So, as we hear those names calling And asking, "Will you never see? War and conflict aren't the way! Just look at what, it did, to me!" 02.13.2007 THE WALL There's a wall of marble Five hundred feet long - Ten feet high, scribed with names Of those who died, the strong. *There's more than fifty-eight thousand Etched upon that stone - Most of them died so young This life, they've never known. It's such a small tribute To those who fought our war - Such a small price we pay To those who gave much more. Their name carved in a rock That most of us won't read - Not near enough praise to give For their most gracious deed. Seems there's too many of us Who don't really seem to care That we stayed home secure and safe While they died over there. Remember when you see that Wall With all those initials and names That those men were only pawns In one more of those deadly games. Let's hope what they gave had meaning - And that peace will always reign - That we won't have to send our young To fight and die again. *At the time of writing, 1982, it was, “fifty-seven thousand”. Del "Abe" Jones Mankind's greatest accomplishment is not the revolution of technology, it is the evolution of creativity. |
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| © Copyright 2007 Del - All Rights Reserved | |||
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Appreciate your thoughts and concerns Abe...James |
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JL Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128Texas, USA |
"Remember when you see that Wall With all those initials and names That those men were only pawns In one more of those deadly games. " In memory those names will be remembered. Not as ‘pawns’, but as friends and heroes. As fellow countrymen who went to a war to try and fix what the stupid politicians and so call newsmen made a mess of. Those men and women who died did not die in vain, but in valor and dignity serving this country as they pledged they would do. They died giving up their lives for strangers, and foreigners to democracy, a people struggling against communism and socialism: to free them from a murderous and cruel government. Johnson and McNamara and the socialist-leftist in congress lost the war and the cost was paid in young men and women for the policies and cowardice decisions made by congress, and even today that cost continues because the American public is too busy and too lazy to learn the truth. What pledges and dedications do Americans make today, from the capitol building, from the white house for this country, our language, and our ideals, and the citizens’ rights to be free men and women, Americans all? The men and women who sacrificed their lives during that time were more virtuous than at any other time in this countries history simply due to the fact that they were not only fighting an enemy abroad but an enemy right here at home: their own political leaders who sent them there to fight for political gain. Not ‘pawns’ brave heroes. Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor. |
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Abe Senior Member
since 2003-05-28
Posts 694Looks like Vero Beach, FL until the end! |
Not intended in that way or to take anything away from them. Del "Abe" Jones |
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