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Veterans Day (repost)
| Open Poetry #47 |
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Veterans Day (repost) |
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Abe Senior Member
since 2003-05-28
Posts 694Looks like Vero Beach, FL until the end! 
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The History Of Veterans Day 1918 The Great War ends in the Eleventh month On the Eleventh hour of the Eleventh day It was called the "War to end all Wars" At least, that's what they used to say. 1919 President Wilson proclaimed Armistice Day To Honor those who died in "The Great War" To "Celebrate the sanctity of Peace" Was what this Special Day was for. 1920 The second Anniversary of the Armistice France and England honored their Unknown Dead President Wilson named the nearest Sunday To be "Armistice Day Sunday", in its stead. 1921 The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier Was Dedicated at Arlington Congress Declared the Eleventh a Federal Holiday For the year of Nineteen twenty-one. 1938 Legislation is passed by Congress To make it a legal Federal Holiday And most States choose to follow suit And Honor that same Armistice Day. 1941-1945 World War Two is fought and won And adds several millions more Of veterans who Served our Country And who Fought in another World War. 1950-1953 We had the War in Korea And once more those numbers grew Making three within the Tomb Of those Soldiers no one knew. 1954 President Eisenhower changed the name And since then, known as veterans Day To Honor all who have ever Served Our Nation in that Military way. 1961-1973 We had America's longest War That was never to be completed Some wounds lasting until this day Sadly, back Home some were mistreated. 1968 Congress passes the Monday Holiday Law Changing it to the fourth one in October Why they had to mess with it? I bet they didn't even know, for sure. 1978 They changed their mind once again In Seventy-five, to change it back Seems they'd have better things to do But for wasting time, they have a knack. To 2005 Seems we have been at War forever And sometimes seems to be no end Will we ever have Peace on Earth And Troops with nowhere to send? For as long as we need them We will have those who Serve us all Who will step up, do Wartime's job Whenever they hear our Nation's call. So this day let's tell them, "Thank you!" And show all those Brave Souls we care Whether they Serve us here at home Or somewhere afar, way over there. And let's say a Prayer for all those Lost Heroes of whom we stand in awe For giving their all to Wartime's curse To this sad, uniquely Human flaw. To 2010 Almost out of one Country Going on ten years in the other Will we Humans never know Peace And, quit killing one another? 2011 The word is, “We’re pulling out!” That one War is coming to an end Let’s hope, that soon, they’ll all be home All of those Heroes, that we send. Del "Abe" Jones (Last verse penned 11.08.2011) And, They Were There, Too (Etched in Ellis County Veterans Memorial in Waxahachie, Texas) Not enough credit given, to mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, Some too, who gave their all, the best years of their lives. There's some, wore a uniform, of one of the military "branches" And like all of those men, taken some deadly chances. Some were in the U.S.O., brought a little taste of home, With small talk, donuts, coffee, where'er the troops would roam. There was "Rosie the Riveter," who fought her own war here. And the nurses that eased the pain, and tried to ease the fear. There were women pilots, who put their lives on the line, Said, "Send me where you will. That suits me, just fine!" Those who stayed at home, to raise their families, Who gave all, went without, realizing harsh realities. So many of those women, who gave so much more Than they were asked to, during each and every war. We honor those, upon this stone, and give our humble "Thanks" To those who served with honor, in our country's wartime ranks. Vets Day November 11th (Written for and recited at the dedication Ellis County Veterans Memorial in Waxahachie, Texas) There are so many great towns That make up this great nation And the heroes from them Boggle the imagination. Those who answer the call In peace and wartime’s strife Who give of themselves So, we can live this life. Some go and fight those wars Some die, some hurt, survive But all that they believe in Is what keeps freedom alive. It’s all those American towns And people who live there Who stand and fight for freedom For people, everywhere. Somebody’s dad or brother Husband, daughter or son Mother, sister, cousins We all, know someone. Who, when freedom was threatened Here at home, around the world Were determined to insure Freedoms flag remained unfurled. They believe and fight for The things this world needs They might not always win But they’ll have planted the seeds. In time of peace or conflict There’s always a price to pay And today, we pay them tribute On this Veterans Day. 11.11.2000 Some Battles, Never Won! Warring nations can call a truce Or they can ask for a cease-fire Try something, like an armistice To bring an end, to wartime ire. The guns may stop the shooting While the bombs no longer burst The din of war may quiet down And the Troops may be dispersed. The body counts may be totaled The wounded, sent home to heal Newspapers proclaim, “War Ends!” To most, war’s horror, seems unreal. Things may return to normal The feuding people go their way Out of sight and out of mind It’s just another ordinary day. For most of us, memories dim It just becomes part of the past If it didn’t touch us directly It’s doubtful any pain will last. But, for so many Troops returning It’s a different World, for sure Wounded deeper than the flesh For some, there will be no cure. With images burned in the mind And the sounds of death and pain The guilt of another life taken Having been to the edge of, sane. With some, a look into their eyes Will show you, a different being Not the one, you knew before That you looked forward to seeing. War opens a new dimension That most of us will never see The World they had left behind Will now, forever, cease to be. Sometimes, they’ll speak about it But, for most, it’s held inside And sadly, for far too many There’s that pain, they cannot hide. When those folks return to us From where, most will never know We must try to understand them When they let other feelings show. They all have Served their Nation For that’s what, Soldiers are for Each deserve our praise and thanks Although not all, have gone to War. Each knows there is the chance That, any time in day or night They may be called on to deploy And be sent somewhere to fight. All Veterans who have served us Through long hours with little pay Should be respected all the time Not only, just on, Veterans Day. 11.08.2008 A MARINE BIRTHDAY (November 10) Eight years after they were formed At the end of the Revolutionary War All the Navy s ships were sold Marines and Sailors were no more. Then, in Seventeen ninety-eight The Marines once more came to be And they fought Barbary pirates Along theShores of Tripoli . During the War of Eighteen Twelve They defended Washington Along with many other Operations Before that War was done. They served in the Mexican War And among Battles that they fought One to theHalls of Montezuma Alongside General Winfield Scott. Bull Runduring the Civil War And blockades at Cape Hatteras At New Orleans and Charleston And Fort Fisher toward the last. The Spanish-American War The Boxer Rebellion in China Fights in Cuba, Mexico, Haiti In Nicaragua and Panama. On the Battlefields of France TheDevil Dogsearned their name And many thousands killed or wounded In World War One s deadly game. And most of us know their stories About the Heroes of WWII There s some seem impossible But we all know they are true. During the War in Korea Twenty-five thousand gave their all Fighting many gallant battles Answering our Country s call. The Cold Warfound them everywhere In countries all around the Earth Trying hard to keep the Peace And showing all their worth. In Sixty-Five they landed in Da Nang With eighty-five thousandin country They served with Pride and Honor Although our Country would not see. On their Two Hundred Thirtieth Birthday We have them serving in Iraq As well as so many other places To try to hold the Terrorists back. Maybe someday there will be Peace And Good Will on Earth and more But until then let’s all give Thanks We have the United States Marine Corps. KIA!Only Numbers? Two hundred, twenty-eight years That, we have been going to war Eleven times we said, “For freedom!” Was, what we were fighting for. We’ve spent two, point, six trillion But that was just a petty cost Compared to all of the spent lives Of those loved ones, who were lost. Thirty-two hundred plus, a month For more than thirty-two years The total time fighting our enemies And more time, shedding our tears. One and one quarter million dead That’s more than fifteen every day Since we went to war, “For freedom!” In our Revolutionary way. One and one half million wounded For this Country of the Free Although some of these losses Were the Union’s and Confederacy. But, all of them are Veterans Who fought for what they believed In their own way, doing battle For those Freedoms, they perceived. As of late, a Veteran’s definition Has come from a different kind of War For which we all, are conscripted To help guard, our Freedom’s door. Let’s Honor, each and every one And though we may not know each name They were so much more than numbers In every Wartime’s deadly “game”. And, each November eleventh In the years, that come to be Let’s hope someday, all People Live in a land, where they are Free. Let’s make Veteran’s Day a memory And a part of days gone past Learn to live with our Fellowman In a Free World at Peace, at last. 10-24-2003 VETERANS DAY 2002 Well, here we are, once again With Veterans, in heart and mind Still trying to heal,from 9/11 Facing Saddam, and his kind. With a new War, looming And the one that we now fight Our Soldiers and our Nation Willing , to do what’s right. It’s not something, we want But, something, that we must As long as we, all believe Our cause, is true and just. Seasoned troops and new recruits And Patriots in our Homeland All hoping for peace and goodwill And Freedom, in everyforeign land. Maybe some way, sometime, this day Will be one, of true celebration With Veterans a part of the past And no more War, for any Nation. 11-10-02 VETERANS DAY, 2005 (originally for 2004) We are set to Celebrate our Vets In this year Two Thousand Five Another year we wish them home Each of them, Safe and Alive. There’s some say, "The War is just!" And some who say, "It’s just not right!" But the ones we should be talking to Are Those who Walk, not Talk the Fight. Not all see things the way we do In this good ol’ U S of A For they have lived for centuries In a completely different way. Our Troops there Work to show them How a People Freed can live And They put Their Lives on the Line And for Some, that’s what They Give. So, as we approach this Veterans Day We know this War is the “real deal” We must all come together And let Them all know how we feel. For, to One and All we send our, "Thanks!" And Pray for Their Quick and Safe return And Hope Their Torch of Freedom lit Will for Now and Always Burn. And to Those who Served before Them In all times of Peace and War We owe them a Debt of Gratitude For our Life of Liberty, and so much more. Revised 10-30-2005 VETERAN'S DAY, 2007 Another year we've been at War And a record year, of Heroes killed Will our hopes for an end to it Never, ever be fulfilled? The cost has been tremendous Andsurely, they don't tell us all Worse, loss of life and mind and limb As our Troops, continue to fall. Some, deployed several times More, than we should rightly ask But, they will go and do their Duty To carry out, their given task. Nearly four thousand gave their all Almost thirty thousand hurt Who tried to bring some civility To that far-a-way, ancient, desert. Many folks are against the War And there's some who do protest But one thing most all, agree on Our Military, is the very best. Let's not forget families and loved ones All, who serve our Country, too Who sacrifice and suffer for us With Patriotism, proud and true. Some of them will lose their Heroes And will hurt and cry and grieve And when handed that folded Flag They will say, “I still believe!” Maybe, “Mission accomplished!” One day, will actually be true But, till then, we must support them And tell them, “Thanks, for all you do!” And we must remember all those Who served our Country in the past To make our Nation Free And to make sure it will last. Del “Abe” Jones 11.06.2007 Let’s not forget our POW/MIAs on this day! POW/MIA Missing Man Ceremony There’s a table in the front Raised so that it draws attention Reserved for all those missing Still not found or in detention. Set for six of those missing One each, for branches Serving One place for lost Civilians Whom, are felt just as deserving. The table is shaped in the round For the everlasting concern As all of us, hope and pray Someday they all, will return. The tablecloth is bright white To symbolize the purity Of those, answering the call Of their Country, doing their Duty. The single rose, in a vase For the lifeblood of those lost And for those awaiting answers A sad part of Wartime’s cost. The vase, tied with red ribbon A symbol of determination To account for those still missing In the Service of our Nation. A slice of lemon on the bread plate For missing/captured in a foreign land The bitter fate of some Heroes Who chose to make a valiant stand. A pinch of salt for all those tears Shed, by missing and their Families Seeking answers to their questions From all those faraway countries. The Bible represents the strength Gained through Faith, to sustain Those missing on foreign shores Where, far too many, still remain! Each of their glasses are inverted Because, they can’t share the toast That, one day we can account for them What we want, first and foremost. The candle is a light of Hope To illuminate the way back home To the loved ones who are waiting Across the sea to Homeland’s loam. The chair just sits there empty A place saved for just the one Who has yet, to come home And one each, for their brethren. An Honor Guard places covers On each empty dinner plate For the Services and Civilian Who have met, this terrible fate. “Taps” is played, and “Some Gave All” With a spotlight on their table With a toast, for their accounting, sworn For, as long as we all are able. This solemn Honors Ceremony Symbolizes they are here with us Hoping someday, they will be back This wish, the most, in God we trust. This can be done for six or one For, the meaning is the same That all, will be returned one day This, we pray, in Heaven’s Name. Del “Abe” Jones 07.19.2008 Abe, I sent your poem paying tribute to POW/Missing vets to a friend in Iraq who serves over there as a contractor doing work for the Iraqis...he's a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel...he sent back a reply that the mess hall where he eats regularly has such a table set up for Missing/POW for all to see who come in there...he thought it ironic to receive that poem. So, i replied back to him, "why don't you see what you can do to have the poem displayed on the table"...well, he replied back with the email that i am forwarding to you...i thought you'd want to know that your poem is getting displayed in the war zone. Keep up the good work, Herb Herb I verified that the poem sits directly across from the reserved chair. Adjacent to the rose. Our table has only one chair and is leaned against the table as if to reserve the seat. Best Regards Bill POW/MIA (Etched on Ellis County Veterans Memorial in Waxahachie, Texas Dedicated 11.11.2000 and inscribed on POW/MIA Empty Chair Memorial at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Dedicated 07.17.2011) So many fates are left unknown And so many rumors that abound So many families ask the question “When will, the answers be found?” So many years have come and gone Sometimes, hope is hard to keep There’s some who feel there’s none And in some, it’s buried deep. The pain, is in not knowing How, to put loved ones’ to rest When there is no way to prove They have passed, the final test. But, no matter what the answers We can’t let this cause alone Until, each and every one of them Is found, and brought back home Del "Abe" Jones 80s POW/MIA STORIES It's hard to find, the stories That, they won't talk about It's hard, to realize the things That they had, to go, without. How can they let the feelings (Even, they don't understand) Show to, any other people In this, Freedom's Land. We can’t know, the hardships Unless, we were there Especially, when they came back home To those who didn't, seem, to care. Unless you had, lived through it Watching, Comrades that had died Why should they, talk about it to us Of, the tears, inside, they've cried? Even, if they chose to tell us What difference, would it make Would it be worth the chance That they, would have to take. Why should they bare their soul That's already been, stripped, clean Because, even with, a picture of it We couldn't see, what they have seen. Sometimes, all we have to do Is, to look into their eyes And think that we might see or hear Their, mournful, pain-filled cries. That POW who came home Who lived, through that Hell Can't tell the stories, of the MIA Whonever had, a chance to tell! So, we may never, ever, know Of, the horrors, they have, known And, if we think about it It's probably best, that they aren't shown! But there is, always an end To every, never-ending story Althoughsometimes, they’re never told In, all their Truth and Glory. So if you ask about it And if you ever wonder why They won’t talk of that nightmare Maybe now, you might know, Why? POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY (The third Friday of September) As time goes on, remains are found And another finds his way back home After years spent lost on foreign shores Feeling forgotten and left all alone. But they will never be forgotten By the Country they went off to serve We will search until all are returned To loved ones, the least they all deserve. There are new ways to identify DNA can tell, just who they may be Those lost in those past conflicts A Hero home, their final destiny. War is so terrible and horrific Worse for the POW and the MIA All of those unaccounted for Compounds the price they chose to pay. Each year, we should all remember Those we lost in the fog of War Better yet, take a moment every day While we appreciate what they fought for. POW/MIA Recognition Day Dedicated to honor their memory For the time or the life they gave To keep this, "The Land of the Free". Del "Abe" Jones 09.13.2007 POW/MIA Remembrance Day (Third Friday of September) Thousands are still missing From those Wars of the past Slowly, some are coming home To grieving Families, at last. Some found in unmarked graves On foreign lands across the sea With the science of DNA To reveal, their true identity. JPAC was formed to find them Around fourteen hundred, to date And for loved ones seeking closure It surely, never is, too late. They think, forty thousand left They might be able to recover As they follow leads and tips From, one country to another. Some remains, may be lost forever Like those Heroes, resting in the Deep But, to bring those others home Is a solemn promise, we must keep. It’s a very noble thing they do As, they go, and search, and find Those, who died for our Country For, we must, leave no one behind. Every year we have a special day To, remember those still lost To, renew that promise to them No matter what, it may cost. Del "Abe" Jones 09.18.2008 One More Came Home http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/07/us.vietnam.war.remains/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 Almost seventeen thousand missing And who knows, how many Family/Friends Have that pain, that hole inside From that Lost one, which never ends. I very often think about it How very lucky, that I was Not, to do the rich ones bidding For that cause, that never was. I thought about going back When, those who ran, had the guts It’s those like me & those who went Who were the only crazy, nuts. To die for, “God and Country” Is really, wearing kinda thin Especially when we make “them” rich In those wars, we’ll never win. We’ve been at it since our dawn At war, killing, someone or other And we even had that time With Brother, killing, Brother. Oh yes, there were those times When, we had no other choice But when there is no point to it Where’s the Peacekeepers voice? Sometimes, I am so ashamed To be a lowly, Human being (?) When, I look all around me And see, all that, I am seeing! In the name of some “god”? For “country”, that doesn’t care? A young life, for a few dollars That’s how, we pay “their” fare! But, guess we will never change We’ll support, “their” hate and greed And Human sacrifice, our offering Will, never, fill, “their” need! Del “Abe” Jones 06.08.2011 The Empty Chair (Inspired by my “POW/MIA” piece being inscribed on the Memorial At New Hampshire Motor Speedway.) Each and every venue Should have an “Empty Chair” To remind, all of us And, to tell them, “We care!” Not too much, to give To those who, “gave their all” Just a Tribute to them Our cost, would be so, small! For those missing and recovered And for those, we still don’t know Whose remains. may still come home Or, where those still captive, go. All of our sports “heroes?” Who make millions on their back Should shell out a little bit To try, to get them back! Thousands fate, are still unknown And those Heroes didn’t know How quick, they’d be forgotten And the numbers, who don’t know. “Leave no one behind” Is tossed around too much Especially by those people Who, don’t really care that much. We live in our Freedom Because of those, we soon forget Except, for a few of us Who’ve not forgotten, YET! Del “Abe” Jones 07.11.2011 Del "Abe" Jones |
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| © Copyright 2011 Del - All Rights Reserved | |||
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JL Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128Texas, USA |
Very nice Abe. JL  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul,and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Fine words you have written for our Veterans...may God bless them and their families and loved ones...James |
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