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