Category: Patriotic

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Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #M-8

About: Military Service
(Serving with Honor)

 “The future offers knowledge,
memories stir the past.

Weapons insure our freedom,
if we handle them with class.”

********

Ronald D. King (1934/2023)

A MILITARY MAN
© Copyright 2013 Richard Lee King

He has faced the demons found within the ways of war,
he’s fought in foreign countries, protecting foreign shores.

He has carried a rifle, along with his 80-pound pack,
and the weight of the entire world, all heaped upon his back.

He was still learning to live, as he was learning how to kill,
he’s found the search for liberty, can be a mighty bitter pill.

He’s a military man, with humanitarian intent,
fighting the world’s demons, wherever he’s been sent.

He joined because of duty, because he felt it was his chore,
just as it was for his brothers, all those who went before.

 Freedom comes at a cost that not all are willing to pay,
but a soldier pays that price, each and every day.

Only those who’ve served the cause, can ever fully understand
the price that’s paid for freedom, by a military man.

Those who’ve carried war weapons, and slept together in a trench,
who know the smell of death, and have endured that awful stench.

We’re thankful he’s still standing, that freedom is still the goal,
but most of all we’re thankful to those who’ve filled that role.

When the flag of freedom waves, and the worlds at peace again,
when the soldiers all return, we’ll record this as a win.

When the flag of freedom waves, when the worlds at peace again,
…when our soldiers all return, THEN, …and only THEN!

….. we will count it as a win.

********

CLOSE TO THE FIRE

The year is Nineteen Sixty-Three, they’re fighting in Vietnam.
He’s standing close to the fire, awaiting a call from Uncle Sam

They’re pulling peoples numbers, who’ll be next to go?
Each drawing we all stand by; will it be someone we know?

He’s in his first year of college, seeking a better life,
working on building a home, a place for his soon-to-be wife.

By sixty-five they’re married, still worried about his fate,
though still attending classes, he’s now working for the State.

She says we’re having a baby; soon his first son will arrive.
If they call him off to war, however will they survive?

Soon they’ll draw more numbers, it’s called the draft lottery.
If they should pull his number, Vietnam is where he’ll likely be.

Some head for the Canadian border.  Others to Mexico,
but if his number is called, to Uncle Sam is where he’ll go.

It’s not about being brave, though that might be debated,
it’s about facing obligations, which can never be over stated.

This is our country and we find it extremely nice
but that would not be, had not our forefathers paid the price.

Both his dad and oldest brother spent time with Uncle Sam
and the lessons they both taught helped him to become a man.

He’ll not volunteer, likely his body won’t pass the tests,
but if his uncle calls, he’ll offer his very best.

Just as his dad in Forty-Four and his brother in Fifty Three,
when Uncle Sam calls, he’ll answer to the need.

In 44, when Dad was drafted, it was to be “the last world war.”
He had 5 kids and a wife at the ripe old age of 34.

When his brother turned 18, they were fighting in Korea.
He told his mom & dad, “When it’s over I’ll be back to see ya.”

Nearly 40 years later, with another war to be won,
his son  joined the army and learned to carry a gun.

He wanted to go to college, but its 91 and we’re fighting in Iraq.
He enlists for 4 years, thinking school could wait til he got back.

With each new generation’s war, Uncle Sam might make that call
and another family member may be asked to give their all.

Standing close to the fire, facing the stress and strife,
for each new generation, seems it’s been our way of life.

Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012#71

About: Military Service

“You can never over prepare.”

Once again, Memorial Day is upon us. It’s a day that was set aside in 1868, specifically to honor fallen soldiers of the Civil War. The original celebration, known then as Decoration Day, took place at Arlington National Cemetery, with a crowd of approximately 5000 people decorating the graves of over 20,000 military personnel.

Over the years, it has become known as Memorial Day and in recent years, it seems that some people have attempted to turn this day into a day to recognize policemen, firemen or health care workers, but that is not and should not be our focus on this hallowed day.

We have two days a year when it’s designated that we do something to honor our military. In May, we have Memorial Day which is for those who are no longer with us and in November we have Veterans Day which is to honor all those who have served, or are now serving.  That’s military service.  Not being a policeman or a fireman, or any other type of serving, but a veteran of our military.

It gets my dander up when people mess with that! 

No matter how heroic we find these non-military hero’s to be they are not military and do not belong in this conversation. I’m not saying that our policemen and firemen don’t deserve being honored for what they do, but lets not cheat our military hero’s by grouping them.

MEMORIAL DAY
May 28, 2012

Memorial Day approaches as soldiers’ step to the fore,
we’ll celebrate their service, just as many times before.

We’ll thank them for their gift, because of them, freedom reigns,
maybe not for the entire world, but at least they’re making gains.

Today we’ll honor those we’ve lost, for a few moments we’ll remember,
then we’ll put the memories away until a day in mid-November.

We’ll take their gift for granted at least til Veterans Day,
but their gift is all encompassing in nearly every single way.

Freedom, bought and paid for by the blood of brave soldiers,
with the fate of the entire world thrust upon their shoulders.

365 days a year our soldiers pay the price,
yet according to our calendar, we honor them only twice.

We need to tell them thank you more than just two days a year
and show more appreciation for the way they’ve calmed our fear.

It’s nice we have this day to honor their sacrifice,
but if we honored them every day it would be 365 times as nice.

********

Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #53

About: Military Service

“The future offers knowledge; memories stir the past.
Weapons ensure our freedom, if we handle them with class.”

John Adams quote: “Those who trade liberty for security have neither.”

********

EDITOR’S NOTE: Please check us out at:   

http://www.amazon.com/author/richard-lee-king/

amazon.com/author/donnachandler

Kindle versions of our books are available at only 99 cents.

A TRIBUTE TO A TRIBUTE

Memorial Day approaches and I’m filled with a desire to write something in honor of our veterans.  In my preparations to do so, I came across this item that I had written a few years ago…..

My sweetie had a doctor appointment near the Veteran’s Memorial Park (located on Veterans Highway in Port St. Lucie, FL.)  We had about an hour to kill and decided that we would stop by the memorial on our way to that appointment.  Neither of us had ever visited it and we thought this would provide a good opportunity.  I swear, I have never “kilt an hour” more productively.

Now that we have, we’ve made a vow to make that short journey more often.  To my way of thinking, this memorial is probably one of the more honorable things that have ever been done in the Treasure Coast area. Our little visit was definitely one of the best decisions we have made in recent memory. What an impressive memorial we have right here in our backyard. I have to say however, to be completely honest, you simply cannot do it justice in only one hour.

As you walk from the parking lot, you encounter tributes to all five branches of the military, located around a meeting area with bench seating. It’s an area where one could conceivably assume that many memorial services have transpired. There are numerous plaques, including those that commemorate the formation of all 5 branches of our military, as well as the emblem for each branch encased in concrete at each of the five corners of the seating area. This area is located directly in front of a large, lighted United States flag, which one would assume is on display 24/7/365.

Other displays include a Korean War Memorial, a memorial honoring the veterans of WW II and one honoring all combat wounded veterans.

Additionally, there is a wall, which would appear to be a replica of the Vietnam Veterans wall located in Washington DC.

We found this to be a very worthwhile memorial park, of which the City of Port St. Lucie can and should take a great deal of pride. With very little effort this little park could conceivably become one of the more sought out tourist attractions in this area.

Were I a “snowbird” coming to this area to take in a Mets ballgame, or any of the other local attractions and were I somehow to be made aware of this magnificent little park, I believe it would have a prominent place on my itinerary.

It’s still some time until this Memorial Day, you still have time to plan for a visit. If you live in South Florida, you should treat yourself to an enjoyable hour or so by making a trip to visit this park.  If you do, you’ll want to thank me for the suggestion.

Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #139

About: Military Service

“Can those who didn’t,,,,
ever really fully appreciate,

the price paid,,, by those who did?”

********

EDITOR’S NOTE: Please check us by going to the addresses’ shown below.   Kindle versions of our books are available at only 99 cents.

http://www.amazon.com/author/richard-lee-king/

amazon.com/author/donnachandler