Jan Allison Poet Narrative

Notes About The Poem

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

No Longer An Unsung Hero

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 January 13, 2016 at 1:01 AM Jan, Congratulations on your win. Luv ~LINDA~ Jan Allison January 13, 2016 at 3:46 PM Thanks so much Linda:-) hugs Jan xx

Richard Lamoureux January 10, 2016 at 10:54 AM Sorry for your loss, thanks for sharing this story of your hero. Congrats and a hug. Jan Allison January 10, 2016 at 11:35 AM Thanks Richard:-) hugs Jan xx

Hansteven Selfa January 9, 2016 at 1:22 AM Congratulations!!! You really deserve the win! :-) Jan Allison January 9, 2016 at 8:51 AM Thanks Hansteven:-) hugs Jan xx

Skat A January 6, 2016 at 12:04 PM Jan, Congratulations on your win, in Judy Konos Dad contest. Love **SKAT** Jan Allison January 7, 2016 at 11:01 AM Thanks Skat:-) hugs Jan xx

Howard Tunick January 6, 2016 at 5:03 AM I salute your father. Jan Allison January 7, 2016 at 11:01 AM Thanks Howard:-) hugs Jan xx

Joyce Johnson January 5, 2016 at 8:39 PM I am sorry for your late loss. Wonderful memories though. Love, Joyce Jan Allison January 7, 2016 at 11:00 AM I learned a lot about dad both in his final months and after he died:-( hugs Jan xx

Joseph May January 5, 2016 at 7:58 PM A heartfelt and beautiful tribute Jan... Jan Allison January 7, 2016 at 11:00 AM Thanks Joseph:-) hugs Jan xx

Sandra Haight January 5, 2016 at 4:31 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 January 5, 2016 at 4:33 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 January 5, 2016 at 3:45 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 January 5, 2016 at 3:47 PM Thanks for another fab contest Judy:-) hugs jan xx

Poet Destroyer A August 20, 2014 at 10:37 AM I am sorry about your dad. I am sending you hugs atm... Jan, I'm sending you soup mail.. LINDA

Poet Destroyer A August 20, 2014 at 10:26 AM Hi Jan, you know why I am here... Your comment on the bottom is sweet... Hope you are well...Linda Jan Allison August 20, 2014 at 10:29 AM Dad is terminally ill with cancer Linda - am finding life a bit tough at the moment:-( hugs jan xxx

Poet Destroyer A August 6, 2014 at 9:45 PM Jan, Congratulations, In Carol's Unsung Hero Contest. LINDA Jan Allison August 7, 2014 at 3:01 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 August 3, 2014 at 3:27 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 August 3, 2014 at 3:31 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 August 1, 2014 at 7:48 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 August 1, 2014 at 8:18 AM Thanks for dropping by with your lovely comment Pandita. Hugs jan xxx

Dr.Ram Mehta August 1, 2014 at 5:58 AM Very emotional write, Jan. congrats on the win. Jan Allison August 1, 2014 at 7:13 AM Thanks for the lovely comment Dr Mehta. Hugs jan x

Casarah Nance July 31, 2014 at 9:26 PM Back again, yay for your win and more hugs :) Jan Allison August 1, 2014 at 4:49 AM Thanks for dropping back Casarah:-) Hugs Jan xxx

Tim Smith July 31, 2014 at 5:48 PM Congrats my dear dear dear friend....hugs xxxx Tim Jan Allison July 31, 2014 at 6:01 PM Thank you Tim my lovely friend. hugs hugs hugs Jan xxx

Vera Duggan July 30, 2014 at 7:15 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 July 31, 2014 at 3:36 AM Thanks for dropping by with your lovely comments Vera. hugs to you and peter. Jan xx

Jslambert Mister Roboto July 30, 2014 at 6:25 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 July 30, 2014 at 6:46 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 July 30, 2014 at 9:50 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 July 30, 2014 at 9:56 AM Ohhh I will do thanks Sara you left it unfinished and i just wanted to read more!!!!!

Charmaine Chircop July 30, 2014 at 9:17 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 July 30, 2014 at 9:23 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 July 30, 2014 at 8:32 AM Oh Jan....my tears are flowing.....many many hugs to you xxxx Jan Allison July 30, 2014 at 8:36 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 July 30, 2014 at 8:09 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 July 30, 2014 at 8:18 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 July 30, 2014 at 8:12 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 July 30, 2014 at 7:27 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 July 30, 2014 at 7:33 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 July 30, 2014 at 6:26 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 July 30, 2014 at 6:36 AM It's his 90th birthday on Saturday i may read it to him then:-) thanks for dropping by Eileen Hugs jan xxx

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