Memorial Day - Del "Abe" Jones

Memorial Day - Del "Abe" Jones A National Moment of Remembrance On Memorial Day That poem about where “poppies blow” And, “the crosses, row on row” Still rings true, these ninety years After written, still brings tears. We still have Dead, “amid the guns” And lose our young and our loved ones Those who lived, “short days ago” Who, “felt dawn, saw sunset glow”. In Flanders Fields, “the poppy red” Still grow near where the blood was bled They, “Take up our quarrel with the foe” And still die for Freedoms that we know. They pass, “The torch” to, “hold it high” And not, “break the faith with us who die” For they, “shall not sleep, though poppies grow” Beneath all those, “crosses, row on row” In Flanders Fields. Del “Abe” Jones 4-25-2005 Many places and people lay claim to being first to celebrate our Memorial Day but it is a time for all Americans to come together to Honor our War Heroes from all Wars. A three day weekend when we should all pause a moment and remember them as decreed by President Clinton in the year 2000. http://www.usmemorialday.org/speeches/president/may0200.txt I have “stolen” some partial lines from the famous poem “In Flanders Fields” written by Canadian John McCrae in 1915. Info about McCrae and poem at http://www.english.emory.edu/LostPoets/McCrae.html and/or http://www.edu.pe.ca/vrcs/remembrance2000/flanders.html Visit http://www.inflandersfields.be/default2.htm for Flanders Fields Museum MEMORIAL DAY A time for picnics, time off work ‑ Vacations and the "Indy" ‑ A holiday, too often times We forget what, it should be. A time to pay respect to those Who rallied to the battle cry ‑ Who gave their lives for liberty ‑ Those freedoms for you and I. Such a waste of brave young souls ‑ Some still struggling through their youth Who faced and fell willingly Before wartimes' awful truth. So as we share this holiday With our friends or family ‑ Take a moment to give thanks to Those who died so we'd stay free. Let us strive for world peace ‑ For the end of greed and hate ‑ For next time, after "the war" It just may be too damned late. Del "Abe" Jones FREEDOMS' MEMORIAL This day is set aside to honor those who took the chance to die. But they have died in vain if we ever forget the reason why. Freedom can be like time slipping away before we even know. But we all have the choice more, a duty to battle freedoms' foe. Let us give thanks this day to all those brave who paid the highest cost. Not take it for granted and realize it easily could be lost. Del "Abe" Jones Memorial Day We've Troops around the World Who put, their Life on the line And sometimes give their All For, Freedoms of yours and mine. But now, it seems much different We ask them, in another’s name To Protect their Freedoms, too And Sacrifice, like it’s the same. But, you can’t give Freedom away It’s something, you must embrace And it may not always work In, each and every time and place. We can’t change centuries of life And ask our Troops to lead the way To place their lives in jeopardy Just because, the Politicians say. But now, that we are in this mess It must be seen through to the end And a Prayer said, for those who die Amongst those brave souls, we send. It’s so sad at this year’s Tribute We must add, all those Names we do With the hope, that someday All these Wars will be through. Del "Abe" Jones A DIFFERENT CALLING This year the "Memorial" has changed It's different than those past A different kind of war From a different, "stone cast". The battle is at Freedom's doorstep With heroes of a different kind Now, all of us are "Soldiers" Against, the terrorists "sick" mind. Civilians have always been A part of every war But, in this day and age We must do, so much more. If we expect to win this Battle We must all join hands In a strong, determined circle With, Freedom lovers from all lands. This world has changed forever "The American Way" There's so much more at stake Than, the way we live and play. Since 9-11 we're learning The horrors of this world Can even come to where Freedoms Flag is, unfurled. This day was meant to Honor All, Military Heroes have endured Now, we all could join their Ranks If our resolve, is not assured. So, let us all take a moment To respect all those, "Fallen" And vow, we're all up to the task Of this, different "Calling". Del "Abe" Jones Mankind's greatest accomplishment is not the revolution of technology, it is the evolution of creativity. Please feel free to pass on anything you like and ask your friends to visit my pages. If you post something on a webpage please let me know when and where. If you wish to be removed from mailings, please let me know. More poetry and other links to my pages > http://mywebpage.netscape.com/delabejones/page2.html New (old) book, "MOONTIDES, AND OTHER CHANGES" as well as "THE WORLD, WAR, FREEDOM, AND MORE" are now available for free viewing or download in text format at http://home.att.net/~abeabe/index.html. To see pics of Ellis County Veterans Memorial in Waxahachie, Texas where two of my poems are inscribed go to http://www.rootsweb.com/~txellis/photos/veterans.htm My e-book, THE WORLD, WAR, FREEDOM, AND MORE" available for FREE. Just ask for it.