On Independence Day at dusk, the sky I’ll view.
Then I’ll be thrilled by fireworks of red, white, and blue.
The waning gibbous moon will be a joy to see.
I’ll pause and think of where I am and why I’m free.
On Memorial Day, once called Decoration Day,
while burgers grill, drinks chill, and all the children play,
adults will praise those who died to make enemies flee.
I’ll pause and think of where I am and why I’m free.
On Veterans Day, we’ll shake the hands of those
who fought for this democracy we love that grows
stronger with time. “The Lord be with you” is our plea.
I’ll pause and think of where I am and why I’m free.
Today, while outside reading, I hear a flapping sound.
Curious, I search for it from treetops to the ground.
Now, nearby our country’s flag I see. Humbled as can be,
I’ll pause and think of where I am and why I’m free.
On the last Monday in May,
once called “Decoration Day,”
flags will fly half-mast till noon,
then at full till dusk. The tune
“Taps” will play and stir our pride.
Honor is due those who died
keeping freedom’s foes at bay.
Remembering Memorial
By Franklin Price
05/24/2020
Remembering Memorial
The last Monday in May
We need to all remember
Why we Nationalized this day
Began with Decoration Day
To put flowers on the tombs
Of ones killed in the civil war
That sent them to their dooms
Was made a National event
In one nine seven one
Officially Memorial Day
For dead, of all wars, not just one
We must keep within our thoughts
That our freedoms are not free
The ones we honor on this day
Gave their all for you and me
Went when they heard duty call
Did not flee or run away
Should recognize their sacrifice
And the price they had to pay
Some now recognize this day
As beginning of the Summer
They are the unappreciative
Don't become one of their number
Dressing up in dresses
Over the knee, modesty
Always a necessary priority
Driving to the cemetery
Flowers lying on the back seat
Awaiting their time to shine
Walking past the many graves
Some older than others
All of them with stones of granite
Reading the markers
That say just who lies there
Beneath the red clay
There aren’t many tears
These people dead and gone
Only memories lingering
Will they see us here?
Lying flowers on top of graves
Paying our respects
We think of them in heaven
Awaiting our arrival
What a joyous day that will be
Decoration day in the mountains
Is a precious moment of hope
For a future in that heavenly home
AMERICA'S NOBLEST MOTIVE
"The noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands" Isaiah 32:8
Decoration Day, declared,
For homes and everywhere.
Flags and flowers now in vogue,
Want us to be aware.
Battles rage, war goes on,
When will it cease?
Americans died in uniform,
Remember our own, please.
Memorial Day it now is called,
Our heroes names we read.
The sound of Taps, a mother's tears,
A sorrowing time indeed.
June 14th comes along,
Our flag to honor true.
For those colors many bled and died,
The red, the white and the blue.
Soon now, we do it again,
Independence Day is nigh.
Freedom bought with lives,
Raise the flag up high.
In November we honor Veternas,
All are heroes now.
Every gender, race, religion,
To you we humbly bow.
Are four days in a year enough,
Their service to recall?
Parents, families and friends,
Will kneel and praise them all.
Lord we give them back to you,
Your Promise to fulfill.
Thank you for sharing them here on earth,
We miss them still.
RAYMOND V. MORGAN
MSgt USAF Retired
We called it Decoration Day
When I was just a kid
And up ‘til now, I never knew
Exactly why we did.
I always thought that it referred
To stripes that soldiers earned
Or stars and bars for officers,
But that’s not what I learned.
I googled it to double-check
And found out I was wrong.
The “decorations” were for graves
And have been all along.
For each serviceman who fought
And lost his life in sacrifice,
Just a marker on his resting place
Would simply not suffice.
So as tribute and remembrance,
With a flag or a bouquet,
We should beautify a soldier’s grave
On Decoration Day.
No matter what you call it,
When our flag is flown half-mast,
Take a moment for reflection
On our soldiers who have passed.
Sometimes I laugh
Sometimes I cry
Sometimes I dream
Of Days gone by
Life was hard, each day we learned
We never wanted what we hadn’t earned
A handshake at the bank was the only must
Lives were built on faith and trust
Friday night dances at the school’s old gym
Pledge of Allegiance and a morning hymn
In the Spring, caterpillars all over the trees
Stop at the candy store for jujubes
Pinball machines and wiffle balls
Growing to serve, duty calls
Decorating the car for the football game
Jumping in leaves when Autumn came
Watch a parade on Decoration Day
Visit the grave, a prayer we’d say
Meet at the diner after class
On Christmas Eve, go to Midnight Mass
Play in the street until well after dark
Climbing trees at the local park
Baking potatoes on an open fire
Riding a bike after patching a tire
Delivering newspapers in all kinds of weather
Put a nail in a bat to hold it together
Counting stars while lying in the grass
Standing under a pavilion until the rain would pass
Sometimes I laugh
Sometimes I cry
Sometimes I dream
Of days gone by.
Oh, there used to be a Decoration Day
Set aside for our Civil War dead,
That later was changed to honor all those gone
That live on in both our hearts and head.
But now it just seems another holiday
When we lay flowers and we grill steaks—
We scarcely note those veterans on parade
Or the ones that died for all our sakes.
And there used to be an America, too,
That we all knew to be the fairest—
When all our heroes were cowboys and John Wayne,
Not Britney or that Hilton, Paris.
Yes, there used to be an America, true,
When outlaws were stopped at the border—
We stood for truth and the American way—
Knew the meaning of law and order.
Oh, there used to be a Memorial Day
When flags proudly waved red, white and blue—
And we smoked if we liked and all spoke our minds
Without fear of the ACLU.
Yes, there still is found a Memorial Day,
But our freedoms are now far and few—
We are silent as they are taken away
And next, they will come for me and you.
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