I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
and then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud;
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.
I heard the sound of TAPS one night,
When everything was still.
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That TAPS had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea,
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
and then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud;
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.
I heard the sound of TAPS one night,
When everything was still.
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That TAPS had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea,
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.
~ CDR Kelly Strong~
USCG (Ret.)
8 comments:
Love that poem, Glenda. AND Kelly Strong is RIGHT. Freedom is NOT free. Just think of all of the service men and women who have DIED for us to have our freedom. Thank God for them and the ultimate sacrifice...
Have a wonderful Memorial Day.
Hugs,
Betsy
Thanks for the beautiful reminder! Carla
What a wonderful poem and reminder to what this day is really to commorate.
To the blogger whose comment I deleted: I so appreciate your visit and your kind comments. But this blog is not at all about advertising, which was a part of your comment. Please do come again and leave a comment - without the ad link! Thanks so much!
I get teary-eyed at such words. But I guess that's okay because I think it's the right thing to do.
Glenda,
I really like this poem. It's a great way to remember our soliders on Memorial Day. Freedom isn't free. My nephew completed two tours of duty in Iraq last year. We pray for our soldiers.
Yes...we should never forget those who made (and make) it possible for us to live in peace. We must be grateful every day.
Thanks for the reminder poem!
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