Happy Veterans Day Unto All!

Veterans of the cold and driving drenching rains

The barren parched soils of near and distant lands

Whom have beheld the devestations and the carnage

That wars and battles have brought and bring

Whether they have been justified, or even manipulated by man

It does not matter; for you have placed your precious lives, upon deaths planes

That another might live, or find freedom within your wake

Christ once said, "that greater love hath no man

Than to lay down their life for their friend...."

And today and always and forever, I shall salute you

With a heart that loves and admires and grieves

Your courage your heroisms and your sacfifices

Whatever colors your uniforms they have beared

Whatever wars your lives have fought....

To both the living and the unforgotten dead

Within times now, or the times of the days of the ancient past

I shall humbly lift by this reverent rose stemmed glass

Its crystalline filled with the bittersweet wines

Poured more sweetly than bitter, within these thankful hands

As thoughts of you all amid your glories

Shall ever before my eyes walk these paths past....

And remember to never become discouraged, by those whom might not understand?

For your priceless lives and eternal souls, shall someday rise again~

As I bow my head and bend my knee

Clutching my heart with thoughts of thee

Upon this your day, of deserving memory

And not only we, but all of Heaven, shall forever salute you....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy Veterans Day!
Copyright © | Year Posted 2008

Poem

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Gass Avatar
November 15, 2008 at 8:35 AM
What a wonderful tribute. Very heartfelt and moving. Thank you for sharing. I also want to thank you for your comment on "My Precious Angel" (MY first ever.) May God always keep you in His loving sight. Robin Gass
Mac Donald Avatar
November 15, 2008 at 6:41 AM
This is a very touching piece, John..one that can reach out to the hearts of many. A fine tribute and dedication for those "That greater love hath no man Than to lay down their life for their friend". The vetrans of yesteryear, and those of the present, how they do touch us all. It can't be so simple, to go off into regions that are obscure, and live each day in an unknown. God bless those brave and deligent people, and their families and friends as well. Hope you're doing great. Love 2 u, Mikki
Torres Avatar
November 12, 2008 at 3:43 AM
John what a great tribute. God bless you Michael Torres
Scott Avatar
November 11, 2008 at 5:28 PM
Absolutely beautiful! I am married to a vet and we thank you for this beautiful & heartfelt tribute to all of our vets. This is an excellent write and I thank you so much for sharing this beautiful poem with all of here. God bless you John, forever and always. Janice
Richards Avatar
November 11, 2008 at 3:12 PM
How wonderful is your poem to honor all the veterans who have kept us safe at home. We owe them so much, and quite often they are forgotten for the sacrifices they made and are still making today. This is a wonderful tribute to them, John. Bless you! ~ Carrie
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