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No Longer An Unsung Hero

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Written for Unsung Hero's Contest Sponsored By Carol Eastman
Awarded 1st place

Dad you don’t have much time left in this world Recently we sat and looked through yellowing photographs Pictures I had never ever seen showing images from your past Of places I have never visited, of faces I had never seen One photograph in particular stunned me It was a photograph of you in a military uniform Standing with other men dressed the same You were in the Lithuanian Resistance Fighting for your freedom and that of your countrymen Fighting against the Russians who invaded your homeland Helping others to escape from these tyrants Several years ago you were awarded a medal This secret from your past was finally out in the open Dad you are no longer an unsung hero; you are my hero Written about my dad who passed away 20th February 2015 30th July 2014

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Poet Destroyer A

Date: 1/13/2016 1:01:00 AM

Jan, Congratulations on your win. Luv ~LINDA~

Jan Allison
Date: 1/13/2016 3:46:00 PM

Thanks so much Linda:-) hugs Jan xx

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 1/10/2016 10:54:00 AM

Sorry for your loss, thanks for sharing this story of your hero. Congrats and a hug.

Jan Allison
Date: 1/10/2016 11:35:00 AM

Thanks Richard:-) hugs Jan xx

Hansteven Selfa

Date: 1/9/2016 1:22:00 AM

Congratulations!!! You really deserve the win! :-)

Jan Allison
Date: 1/9/2016 8:51:00 AM

Thanks Hansteven:-) hugs Jan xx

Skat A

Date: 1/6/2016 12:04:00 PM

Jan, Congratulations on your win, in Judy Konos Dad contest. Love **SKAT**

Jan Allison
Date: 1/7/2016 11:01:00 AM

Thanks Skat:-) hugs Jan xx

Howard Tunick

Date: 1/6/2016 5:03:00 AM

I salute your father.

Jan Allison
Date: 1/7/2016 11:01:00 AM

Thanks Howard:-) hugs Jan xx

Joyce Johnson

Date: 1/5/2016 8:39:00 PM

I am sorry for your late loss. Wonderful memories though. Love, Joyce

Jan Allison
Date: 1/7/2016 11:00:00 AM

I learned a lot about dad both in his final months and after he died:-( hugs Jan xx

Joseph May

Date: 1/5/2016 7:58:00 PM

A heartfelt and beautiful tribute Jan...

Jan Allison
Date: 1/7/2016 11:00:00 AM

Thanks Joseph:-) hugs Jan xx

Sandra Haight

Date: 1/5/2016 4:31:00 PM

Such wonderful memories for you to keep about your dear dad, Jan. Your poem is a lovely tribute to the military hero he was. Congrats on your First Place win. Hugs, Sandra

Jan Allison
Date: 1/5/2016 4:33:00 PM

Thanks Sandra we learned a lot about dad's life in the months before he died seeing photos we had never seen before:-) hugs Jan xx

Judy Konos

Date: 1/5/2016 3:45:00 PM

Thank you for being in my contest. Your dad has left fond memories embedded in your heart and that is enough to last until you meet again.....

Jan Allison
Date: 1/5/2016 3:47:00 PM

Thanks for another fab contest Judy:-) hugs jan xx

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 8/20/2014 10:37:00 AM

I am sorry about your dad. I am sending you hugs atm... Jan, I'm sending you soup mail.. LINDA

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 8/20/2014 10:26:00 AM

Hi Jan, you know why I am here... Your comment on the bottom is sweet... Hope you are well...Linda

Jan Allison
Date: 8/20/2014 10:29:00 AM

Dad is terminally ill with cancer Linda - am finding life a bit tough at the moment:-( hugs jan xxx

Poet Destroyer A

Date: 8/6/2014 9:45:00 PM

Jan, Congratulations, In Carol's Unsung Hero Contest. LINDA

Jan Allison
Date: 8/7/2014 3:01:00 AM

Ohh thank you so much for your lovely comment Linda - this poem makes me emotional - there are things about my father I am only now discovering now when he is nearing the end of his life. I am going to try to get him to record his life story - it may be easier for him to do that and we would have the memories forever then. Hugs Jan xx

Kelly Deschler

Date: 8/3/2014 3:27:00 PM

It's an amazing feeling when our closest loved ones reveal things about themselves that we never knew. It's almost like we never knew them at all! This is a very nice tribute to your Dad. Well done, Jan! Congratulations on your win!

Jan Allison
Date: 8/3/2014 3:31:00 PM

There is so much to learn and sadly so little time left Kelly as my dad is terminally ill:-( Thanks for your lovely comment :-) Hugs Jan xxx

Pandita Sietesantos

Date: 8/1/2014 7:48:00 AM

Bravo, Jan, on this superb tribute to your great Dad! We have to pay tribute to these great parents who bless our lives. Congratulations, my friend on a wonderful, well-deserved win! Pandita

Jan Allison
Date: 8/1/2014 8:18:00 AM

Thanks for dropping by with your lovely comment Pandita. Hugs jan xxx

Dr.Ram Mehta

Date: 8/1/2014 5:58:00 AM

Very emotional write, Jan. congrats on the win.

Jan Allison
Date: 8/1/2014 7:13:00 AM

Thanks for the lovely comment Dr Mehta. Hugs jan x

Casarah Nance

Date: 7/31/2014 9:26:00 PM

Back again, yay for your win and more hugs :)

Jan Allison
Date: 8/1/2014 4:49:00 AM

Thanks for dropping back Casarah:-) Hugs Jan xxx

Tim Smith

Date: 7/31/2014 5:48:00 PM

Congrats my dear dear dear friend....hugs xxxx Tim

Jan Allison
Date: 7/31/2014 6:01:00 PM

Thank you Tim my lovely friend. hugs hugs hugs Jan xxx

Vera Duggan

Date: 7/30/2014 7:15:00 PM

Oh Jan what a beautiful ode to your Dad, I do hope you show it to him, good luck in the contest. and thanks for SM...........Take care my dear and regards to your parents and Bob..............Vera......

Jan Allison
Date: 7/31/2014 3:36:00 AM

Thanks for dropping by with your lovely comments Vera. hugs to you and peter. Jan xx

Jslambert Mister Roboto

Date: 7/30/2014 6:25:00 PM

HEAVY!!! why so few reads? It seems the more poems I pour out on here the less they get read...I wish it were reversed. AWESOME ODE to your Dad! My captcha reads PAP ,,,,coincidence ??? the soup spirits are here!:)

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2014 6:46:00 PM

Why so comments - I ask myself that all the time Mr Roboto. Maybe we should write less and comment more LOl but when i comment on 50 poems and get about 7 replies if I'm lucky it is disheartening. Thanks for your comment I do appreciate you dropping by. When things are more settled in my life i will be posting elsewhere where you HAVE to actively comment on the work of others. Hugs Jan xxx

Sara Kendrick

Date: 7/30/2014 9:50:00 AM

Ahh!! What an honor for his daughter to write a poem about him which is probably more valuable to him than any metal..Reads like a winner in the contest..Way to go..Thanks for the visit to my page..I have finished my sonnet "Click Clack" if you care to read the finished version..Sara

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2014 9:56:00 AM

Ohhh I will do thanks Sara you left it unfinished and i just wanted to read more!!!!!

Charmaine Chircop

Date: 7/30/2014 9:17:00 AM

What an amazing poem,I wonder what your dad must have passed through at war.A hero indeed sweet Jan..I can.feel your soul in this poem.

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2014 9:23:00 AM

He never talked about what he did Charmaine - it's the first time I'd ever seen the photos - he finds it very painful to talk about how the Russians invaded his land - he still has nightmares about them raiding his farmstead. Hugs Jan xxx

Tim Smith

Date: 7/30/2014 8:32:00 AM

Oh Jan....my tears are flowing.....many many hugs to you xxxx

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2014 8:36:00 AM

Going through the photos recently with dad was the most emotional 2 hours I have spent Tim. Seeing pictures of his mothers grave in Siberia that his brother built when she died there was heartbreaking. I learned so much about his life in those 2 hours that I never knew before. Many hugs hugs Hugs back. Jan xxx

Arlene Smith

Date: 7/30/2014 8:09:00 AM

Wow, Jan!!... Love love love this story!.. A true hero, dear.. No brag, just fact.. A true hero for sure!.. He fought from his heart, not for glory...gl in the contest my friend!.. Hugs.. Arlene

Arlene Smith
Date: 7/30/2014 8:18:00 AM

So happy he finally received a medal!.. I know it gives you chills and also fills you with pride to see those pictures... Hugs, dear friend.. Arlene

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2014 8:12:00 AM

Yes Arlene and it wasn't until a few years ago he was awarded a medal for the part he played as a resistance fighter. It was incredibly emotional looking at the pictures especially of the farmstead he grew up on and the actual house he was born in - although it was wrecked by the invaders the shell was still standing. Hugs jan xxx

Casarah Nance

Date: 7/30/2014 7:27:00 AM

Oh that gave me goosebumps. Your dad is such a treasure, thank you for sharing that story with us. ooh Jan a big hug. lots of love to both of you ;)

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2014 7:33:00 AM

Thanks Casarah. It was so so moving to go through the photos and document them once he is gone all the history would have been lost. Hugs Jan xxx

Eileen Manassian

Date: 7/30/2014 6:26:00 AM

Oh Jan...How sweet. This is a lovely tribute to your dad. I can feel the love in every line. He would be proud.

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2014 6:36:00 AM

It's his 90th birthday on Saturday i may read it to him then:-) thanks for dropping by Eileen Hugs jan xxx