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Patriotic Sites &
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Be Proud
of Our Country and Those Who Have Served!

Many
people asked me to keep this poem available after Veteran's Day, if you want a
permanent copy you can go to the site linked below and order the author's books.
With
Special Permission of the Author I Present Here
A Wonderful Dedication To:
ALL WHO HAVE
SERVED!
Please Thank Anyone
You Know That May Have Helped or IS Helping to Keep Our Country Free Today!
(A
Soldier Died Today)
by
A. Lawrence Vaincourt
If
you would also please send up a few special words for the author as he is
presently in the hospital. If you would like to purchase any of his books the
link above will take you to his site. Pam
He
was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And
he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past
Of
a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In
his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, every one.
And
tho' sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All
his Legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But
we'll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has passed away,
And
the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.
He
will not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For
he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held
a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And
the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.
When
politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While
thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Papers
tell their whole life stories, from the time that they were young,
But
the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is
the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land
A
guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow man?
Or
the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and strife,
Goes
off to serve his Country and offers up his life?
A
politician's stipend and the style in which he lives
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives.
While
the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small.
It's
so easy to forget them for it was so long ago,
That
the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but we know
It
was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,
Who
won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.
Should
you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would
you want a politician with his ever-shifting stand?
Or
would you prefer a soldier, who has sworn to defend
His
home, his kin and Country and would fight until the end?
He
was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But
his presence should remind us we may need his like again.
For
when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is
to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.
If
we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then
at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps
just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
Our
Country is in mourning, for a soldier died today.
©
1985 A. Lawrence Vaincourt

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Candles
Across
America
Campaign
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"Memorial
Day should be sacredly observed. It is the Nation's Sabbath; a day of sweet
memories and cherished associations; and an occasion which, as
the years go by, stirs anew within us stronger
feelings of Patriotism and brings to every lover of his Country a fuller
appreciation of its true meaning and
purpose.
It is fitting to recall the deeds which this day
commemorates. The brave men who fought our battles on land and sea settled the
question once and for all
that this fair
land of ours shall ever be a land of free men and free women, in fact, as well
as in name; and they also demonstrated to the world that this
Government
is not only a union of states, but that it is also a great Nation and that
'Government by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the
earth.'"
The
statement above from President Lincoln and the verse is worth repeating here, once again
for all of us to reflect on every day and always, not only Memorial Day weekend.

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To each of you who served...
To each of you whose family member served...
To especially each of you who forever gave
precious members of your family in the defense of this great land, please accept this
heartfelt
Thank You and God Bless You !
as we remember.
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| I am your Flag, I
represent the freedom of humanity, and I shall fly high,
thundering in silence for the whole world to hear.
My gentle rustling in the
breeze sounds out the warning to all who would bury me forever that below stands a population dedicated
to liberty.
For those who have
perished for my right to freedom of flight, for those who will die, and indeed, for those who will live,
I stand as a symbol of freedom-loving people.
I have been carried into
battle in faraway lands, always for the cause of freedom. I am bloodstained, torn, and in many cases wearied
and saddened by the thousands who have made the supreme
sacrifice. Do not let it all be for nothing. Tell me the brave
have all died for a worthwhile cause. Be proud of what I
represent, and display me for all to see.
Whether you call me
"Old Glory," "Stars and Stripes" or Star Spangled Banner," I shall fly forever as a symbol of your
freedom, as I
did for your ancestors, and as I shall for your heirs.
I am YOUR Flag.!
.....by Ann Landers
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"THAT
RAGGED OLD FLAG"
(Author
Unknown)
I
walked through a county courthouse square.
On a park bench an old man was sitting there.
I said, "Your old Court House is kinda run down."
He said, "No, it will do for our little town."
I said, "Your old flag Pole is leaning a little bit.
And that's a ragged old Flag you've got hanging on it."
He
said, "Have a seat," and I sat down
"Is the first time that you've been to our little town?"
"Well," he said, "I don't like to brag,
But we're kinda proud of that ragged old Flag.
You see, we got a little hole in the Flag there,
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
And it got powder burns, the night Francis Scott Key,
Sat watching it, writing 'Oh, Say, Can You See.'
And it got a bad rip at New Orleans,
When Packingham and Jackson took it to the scene
And, it almost fell at the Alamo beside the Texas Flag
But she waved on through
She got cut with a sword at Chancerville,
And she got cut again at Shilo Hill
There was Robert E. Lee, Bouregard and Bragg
The South wind blew hard on that Old Ragged Flag
On Flanders Field in World War One
She got a big hole from a Bertha Gun
She turned BLOOD RED World War Two,
And she hung limp and low a time or two.
She was in Korea and Vietnam
She went from our ships upon the briny foam.
Now
they've about quit waving her back here at home
In our good land she's been abused,
She's been burned, dishonored, denied, and refused
And the Government for which she stands
Is scandalized through out the land.
She's getting threadbare and she's wearing thin,
But, she's in good shape for the shape she's in,
Because she's been through the fire before,
I believe she can take a whole lot more.
So
we raise her up every morning, and we
Take her down every night,
We don't let her touch the ground,
and we fold her up right.
On
second thought, I DO LIKE TO BRAG,
BECAUSE
I'M MIGHTY PROUD OF THAT RAGGED OLD FLAG!
The
foundations of our national policy will be laid in the pure and
immutable
principals
of private morality.
~~
George Washington in his inaugural speech~~ |

I just visited another site that near to ripped
my heart out as another tribute to some more of the great people who willingly gave their
service to make these United States what they are today. If you would like to visit:
A Tribute to the Men of the 8th Air Force.

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