My Memorial Day Family Salute
My mother’s brother lies in a grave in Normandy
If he had lived I would have known him as Uncle Stanley
I recall his oval framed picture hanging on Grandma’s wall
Uncle Stanley so youthfully dressed in army attire proud and tall
Stanley’s eyes seem the same as my Uncle Jimmy’s to me
I always imagined Stanley’s voice whenever Uncle Jimmy was with me you see
Most all the men of my mother’s family
Served in their country’s greatest hour of need proudly
My Uncle Jack became a prisoner of war while fighting in Europe
All through my life only once did I ever hear him tell the others of it
Uncle Leonard flew across the English Channel in a flying fortress
I remember him crying when he told my father about this
Uncle J.T. was wounded somewhere in the country of France
I recall him using a cane and joking about never being able to dance
Uncle Ted entered the Great War two years late
He worked in supply – far from the front lines of deadly hate
Uncle Lloyd who is the only brother left alive to this day
Will serve his country yet again on this Memorial Day
As always he will proudly adorn his Marine dress blue on Monday
To lead the city’s festive military parade
I will hoist my country’s flag in my front yard
Sing our National Anthem loudly and hard
I have been so blessed by my mother’s brothers who did so give sacrifice
That I this day am afforded such a rich and wonderful life
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