Memorial Day

Memorial Day By: Elaine M. Ruotolo Gallagher Memorial Day is a day to remember our military people who have died, And a time to give heartfelt thanks to the people who tried, Tried to keep our country free, free from dictators and tyrants, Free for you and me. Memorial Day: the words tell you what the day is for, And it’s not just for those who fought in a war. It’s for all military personnel, both young and old, From the lowly private up to the uniforms trimmed with gold. For the cooks who prepared the military chow, and the secretaries who handled things, Because they just knew how. For the person in uniform who was so glorious to be seen, To the blood-covered fatigues that were far from pristine. Remember all the brave men and the heroic women, too, Who were once in the military to protect people like me and you, Who died in a jungle, or on a cold mountainside, Or on a once beautiful beach with blood-spattered sand, Or when they came home to this country’s soil, Their beloved homeland. No matter what took their life from us, no matter what age when they died, Thank them in song, thank them in prayer, or thank them with the tears you cry. From the beaches of Normandy, or from the jungles of Vietnam, From Pork Chip Hill of Korea, or the deserts of Afghanistan. From one far off end of the earth the far away other side, From a beachfront home in Hawaii, to the streets of New York City, They have died. Memorial Day, it comes once a year, It honors the dead, whom we should hold very dear. Our military men and women, young or old, it’s the same, They served our country well and with Bravery as their middle name. So, bow your head in sorrow, but raise your voice in cheer. For all of our departed military who had more gumption than fear.