I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.
I heard the sound of taps one night,
When everything was still
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That taps had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.
~ Kelly Strong
306. Soldiers with their warrior hearts who answer duty's call.
307. Mothers, fathers, wives, sons and daughters who bravely
let their young men go to serve a higher cause.
308. The old man selling poppies outside the grocery store.
309. The VFW, the AmVets, the National Guard...and all the other
organizations that make sure every veteran's grave bears a flag.
310. The men and women who gather for Memorial Day services
and still shed tears for ones who fell 40, 50....60 years ago.
311. Safe travel for children away from home.
312. A relaxed, easy weekend at home with the husband.
313. Rain that held off long enough for a garden to be planted.
314. God's awesome power displayed in a thunder storm.
315. Contentment.
316. Garage sale-ing and shopping with Mom.
317. Cuddling a 70 lb. dog who is afraid of thunder.
318. Sunshine after the rain.
319. Fragrant, fresh-tilled earth beneath my feet and in my hands
as I work in the garden and flower beds.
320. The farmer's market: wooden bowls smooth and solid under my
fingers; fresh baked goods; sweet raspberry wine; the earthy smell
of herbs sold by the flat; brightly painted crafts; and foods that
cause the mouth to water.
6 comments:
One of my favorite memories of this day was going to the local parade with my friends Rose and Tim. When the veterans car would go by, they would stand and salute. They would clap, they would get clapped for.
While this IS a day to remember all those, as if that were possible, there are too many, who died in service to us, it's also turns out to be a day to salute all veterans.
Veterans Day is the same, but in reverse.
It has to be that way, two days is not enough for the men and women who paid the ultimate price or for those who offered to or still take that chance.
For us, not that we deserve it.
How humbling is that?
Walking in the footsteps of someone else, aren't they?
Beautiful post, Stacy! That picture is so sad. So easy to forget when we haven't been called to suffer the losses ourselves.
thank you for this post...and showing what it takes to have this freedom....Happy Memorial day.
yes, freedom isn't fee..
I am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.
There is a high price for freedom. sandie
I liked 313 - 318. I was blessed to see an awesome display of lightening across the sky but couldn't help but worry about my puppy who is petrified of thunder and lightening.
I enjoyed reading your list. I am humbled by your gratefulness.
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