To many folks, Memorial Day means a parade and a Monday off. It means much more to guest author RichardB.
Take it away, Rich--
"I am fourth generation military. My great grandfather fought in the army in the Spanish American war. My grandfather was in both the Calvary before it became tanks and in the Army Air Corps before it became the Air Force. My father was a radar man in the army. I broke tradition and got away from the army to go in and fix avionics in jets for the United States Navy and was in theater for the Iranian hostage crisis. My younger brother continued the army tradition and was a cook in Korea in the DMZ."
"This is my dad's flag that was presented to my mom at his funeral. As well as his dog tags, patches, and medals that he earned, we also included a number of his memorabilia for his work as an outdoorsman for youth in our community."
War
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A moment of violence has begot
a moment of silence not soon forgot
A man stands alone with sword at his side
Another lies still with cold blade inside
The victor cries out a call of love
The other cries softly a cold tear of blood
Brothers that fought side by side
Each for their purpose
Each for their pride
The nature of man has taken its toll
In the nature of war, a thousand fold
Bodies lie scattered hither and yon
The reason for fighting is now truly gone
To think that mankind would now surely learn
As the bodies are gathered and piled and burned
That the blood that is shed is only a game
Of Kings and of Queens
and of lost faceless names
But the pitiful ploy of one who has power
will bring back a battle at some distant hour
New vows are sworn and oaths rise anew
Who will die next? Is it me, is it you?
A child in this world will shoot a toy gun
and dies in the flash of a nuclear sun
To think mankind would now surely learn
As their children are playing, that they too get burned
Thanks brother...