Memorial Day Sonnet

If Liberty means anything to me,
I will remember what my freedom cost,
By those who gave their all to keep me free,
Whose lives were sacrificed, but never lost.
I will remind myself of what they did,
And keep them dearly cherished in my heart;
Their honor never from me shall be hid
And I will know they always did their part
To save our nation and its people here,
To pledge their lives in defense of our ways,
To show that freedom always outlives fear,
And sacrifice is hallowed all our days.
If Liberty means anything to me,
I will remember those who kept me free.

© John Stuart 2008
Pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church,
Knoxville, Tennessee

Audio at:
http://media.libsyn.com/media/stushie/Memorial_Day.mp3

By John Stuart on 05.26.08 8:05 am

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By Decoration Day In Tennessee : Post Politics: Political News and Views in Tennessee on 05.26.08 1:39 pm

John–Absolutely beautiful. And even better when listening to your delivery. Thank you for sharing both.

By Terry on 05.26.08 4:23 pm

Slightly off-topic but something I noticed yesterday re: Memorial Day.

I made a point to look at the comics section in the Knox Sentinel because I was interested in something.

Back on Earth Day, 90% of the comics were devoted to something “green.” Literally, 9 out of 10 had some pro-environment message.

Yesterday, on Memorial Day, there were exactly three references to the Holiday.

Ironically, the most positive cartoon of the three was a hispanic cartoon.

What got me mad – really mad – was the last cartoon on the second page. It was an African-American cartoon that had two people contemplating Memorial Day.

The first one says something about the sacrifices that soldiers have made overseas for our freedom.
The second figure replies, “yes, and then the soldiers came home and fought against civil rights and integration.”
The first then says, “I never know what to do on Memorial Day.”
The second figure then replies, “barbeque and ribs.”

Thought it was kind of in poor taste AND historically innaccurate. Also kind of peeved at how the cartoonist’s could reference Earth Day but completely ignore Memorial Day.

By Ty on 05.27.08 9:22 am

To Whom It Would Be of Interest,

I wrote this song to pay tribute to All Veterans and

would be honored if you choose to post it on your Patriotic

Web Site. I thank you and God Bless!

A Tribute To Veterans

In Vietnam, Korea and World Wars Past
Our Men Fought Bravely so Freedom Would Last
Conditions Where Not Always Best They Could Be
Fighting a Foe You Could Not Always See:

From Mountain Highs to Valley Lows
From Jungle Drops to Desert Patrols

Our Sinewy Sons Were Sent Over Seas
Far From Their Families And Far From Their Dreams
They Never Wrote Letters Of Hardships Despair
Only Of Love, Yearning That One Day Soon:

They Would Come Home, They Would Resume
And Carry On With The Rest of Their Lives

The P.O.W.’S Stood Steadfast
Against the Indignities And Cruelties Of War
They Could Not Have Lasted as Long as They Did
If They Had Relinquished Their Hope That Some Day:

They Would Come Home, They Would Resume
And Carry On the Rest Of Their Lives

Medics, Nurses, and Chaplains Alike
Did What They Needed To Bring Back Life
They Served Our Forces From Day Into Night
Not Questioning If They Would Survive:

They Mended Bones And Bodies Too,
They Soothed the Spirits of Dying Souls

And for Those M.I.A’S, Who Were Left Behind
We Echo This Message Across the Seas
We Will search For as Long As It Takes
You’re Not Forgotten And Will Always Be:

In Our Hearts, In Our Prayers,
In Our Minds For All Time

A Moment of Silence, a Moment of Summons
Is Their Deliverance of Body And Soul
To a Sacred Place That We All Know
Deep In the Shrines of Our Soul:

In Our Hearts, In Our Prayers
In Our Minds For All Time

INTERLUDE:
GOLD STAR MOTHERS GRIEVE: ENDLESSLY,
ENDLESSLY, ENDLESSLY…….

These Immortalized Soldiers Whose Bravery Abounds
They’re Our Husbands, Fathers, and Sons
They Enlisted For the Duty at Hand
To Serve the Cause of Country and Land:

They Had Honor, They Had Valor,
They Found Glory That Change Them Forever

Men Standing Tall and Proud They be
A Country Behind Them in a Solemn Sea
So Let the Flags of Freedom Fly
Unfurled in Their Majesty High:

In the Sun, In the Rain
In the Winds Across This Land

Years of Tears Has Brought Us Here
Gathering Around to Hear This Sound
So Let the Flags of Freedom Fly
Unfurled in Their Majesty High:

In the Sun, In the Rain,
In the Winds Across This Land

REPEAT:

In the Sun, In the Rain,
In the Winds For All Time

Jerry Calow (copyright 2003 )

By Jerry Calow on 01.01.09 9:52 pm