As the sun sank on this day, I sat in my secure little
house, in the comfort of my familiar chair. Thoughts drifted across my mind,
images of wreaths and flags and poppies, the emblems of the day. One day, I
realized, was not enough. Lip service and parades, glib words and careless
salutes, empty platitudes of honor and gratitude and perhaps a free lunch. So not
enough!
My words are not enough either but they are heart felt and
sincere. My grandfather served in the Spanish America war, my father in World
War II, my late husband in Korea ,
friends and classmates in Vietnam
and my son in the first Desert Storm. No, nothing is truly enough. Yet it
seems to be all we can do.
War is never “just” or good or right but it is a
human failing to divide ourselves into us versus them and fight for whatever
pretext our leaders may devise. Perhaps it will always be so. We cannot transfer the evil of the institution onto those who serve; they obey their orders, the fervor of patriotism and sometimes the propaganda that is created to fire up a people. As the sun sinks,
I am secure and warm in my little house as so many are not now and never will
be or have been. How can we fix this wounded world of ours and our siblings of
every color and creed? By all holy, I wish I knew. Still I honor those who have fought with at least a true belief in their purpose.
With little fanfare
File and
rank
Pass in review.
Will no one
thank
Them for their sacrifice,
The all
they gave?
Medals and honors
They do not
crave
But only that we care
And maybe
note
In sweat and blood the epic
History
they wrote.
With little fanfare
Rank and
file
Pass in review.
Just stand
awhile,
Render homage they deserve.
Honor the
price they paid
That all might live in peace
And
unafraid.
Someday…
No comments:
Post a Comment