(Untitled)
Abide with me, Fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, O abide with me
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness
Where is death's sting? Where grave they victory?
I triumph still, if Thou ( Read more... )
The Unknown Soldier
by Billy Rose
There's a graveyard near the White House
Where the Unknown Soldier lies,
And the flowers there are sprinkled
With the tears from mother's eyes.
I stood there not so long ago
With roses for the brave,
And suddenly I heard a voice
Speak from out the grave:
"I am the Unknown Soldier,"
The spirit voice began,
"And I think I have the right
To ask some questions man to man.
"Are my buddies taken care of?
Was their victory so sweet?
Is that big reward you offered
Selling pencils on the street?
"Did they really win the freedom
They battled to achieve?
Do you still respect that Croix de Guerre
Above that empty sleeve?
"Does a gold star in the window
Now mean anything at all?
I wonder how my old girl feels
When she hears a bugle call.
"And that baby who sang
'Hello, Central, give me no man's land.'
Can they replace her daddy
With a military band?
"I wonder if the profiteers
Have satisfied their greed?
I wonder if a soldier's mother
Ever is in need?
"I wonder if the kings, who planned it all
Are really satisfied?
They played their game of checkers
And eleven million died.
"I am the Unknown Soldier
And maybe I died in vain,
But if I were alive and my country called,
I'd do it all over again."
I learned it for a poetry unit in 6th grade and it always comes to mind on this day. As to the loss of first person memories, I have been encouraging every WWII vet I know to contact the D-Day Museum in NOLA or the Norton Art Gallery here in town, to participate in the oral history projects they have going. The D-Day museum in New Orleans is wonderful, because so much of it narrated through oral history exhibits. There is something so touching in knowing these are the people who had the experiences, not an actor recreating a moment. It is just different, if you know what I mean.
And that is a lovely poppy. We don't do poppies here. I think it is kind of weird. It seems like that would be popular in the South, where we have such a large number of vets. Of course, I said something about today originally being "Armistice Day" here too, to a group of adults. None of them new what I was talking about. How is that possible? (These are well educated adults with Master's degrees. I was stunned.)
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It's always seemed odd to me that Memorial Day is the beginning of summer. For some reason, the holiday of remembrance and reflection, especially combined with the sobriety of war, seems like it's better suited for winter. It's probably just that's what I grew up with, but it seems to fit.
I really like that poem, too. I'm pretty sure I've read it before, but it's always good to read again.
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