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Veterans have always held a special place in my heart. They will always own a
piece of my soul. This poem was written by me but could not be included in my
first book because it had been previously published in the Conde News.
piece of my soul. This poem was written by me but could not be included in my
first book because it had been previously published in the Conde News.
| Tribute to All Veterans Written by Joyce Francene Svob Ragels, 2001 |
Using musket balls at Bunker Hill
young people went to war
youngsters became our patriots
baptized with blood and gore.
Veterans have served in harsh conditions
to defend our flag and home
they carry their pride like banners
on foreign lands and seas of foam.
Some shivered in small foxholes
some tramped in mud knee high
some chopped their way through jungles
some battled in the sky.
Some roasted in the heat
while others froze in snow
some were covered with leeches
and lived where you’d not go.
Some sailed out on the ocean
in vessels big and small
some sewed bodies back together
in MASH’s dim lit halls.
Some did all the cooking
for every meal you ate
some inventoried body bags
that sealed another’s fate.
Some walked Bataan’s Death March
some never saw the end
some saw too many death camps
around too many bends.
You wonder what they look like
these saviors all unfurled
and surprises of surprises
some of them are girls.
I honor all these veterans
whether guy or girl
whether taking hills like Pork Chop
or dodging bombs at Pearl.
young people went to war
youngsters became our patriots
baptized with blood and gore.
Veterans have served in harsh conditions
to defend our flag and home
they carry their pride like banners
on foreign lands and seas of foam.
Some shivered in small foxholes
some tramped in mud knee high
some chopped their way through jungles
some battled in the sky.
Some roasted in the heat
while others froze in snow
some were covered with leeches
and lived where you’d not go.
Some sailed out on the ocean
in vessels big and small
some sewed bodies back together
in MASH’s dim lit halls.
Some did all the cooking
for every meal you ate
some inventoried body bags
that sealed another’s fate.
Some walked Bataan’s Death March
some never saw the end
some saw too many death camps
around too many bends.
You wonder what they look like
these saviors all unfurled
and surprises of surprises
some of them are girls.
I honor all these veterans
whether guy or girl
whether taking hills like Pork Chop
or dodging bombs at Pearl.
Now Saudi, Bosnia, & Afghanistan
from Korea, Cuba, and Vietnam
wars that ran both hot and cold
and don’t forget Sudan.
Many had a wife and kids
that were left alone back home
they became the hidden casualties
military family life gone wrong.
Lots carried special pictures
some prayed upon deaf ears
they clamored at all mail calls
and choked back most their fears.
Some wounds were on the inside
and some would never heal
some hear sounds and voices
yet bury what they feel.
Some contracted fevers
or a disease they couldn’t say
some lost pieces of themselves
Oh what a price to pay.
We say we pay them honor
for all that they have lost
I say it is our duty and
it’s a small and tiny cost.
Every veteran is a hero
regardless what was done
for without every contribution
no battle could be won.
Next time you see a veteran
look them straight into the eye
you ought to pay them homage
for their friends that had to die.
Don’t take them for granted
bestow honor on those chaps
you never want to have regrets
at the sound of guns and ‘Taps’.
from Korea, Cuba, and Vietnam
wars that ran both hot and cold
and don’t forget Sudan.
Many had a wife and kids
that were left alone back home
they became the hidden casualties
military family life gone wrong.
Lots carried special pictures
some prayed upon deaf ears
they clamored at all mail calls
and choked back most their fears.
Some wounds were on the inside
and some would never heal
some hear sounds and voices
yet bury what they feel.
Some contracted fevers
or a disease they couldn’t say
some lost pieces of themselves
Oh what a price to pay.
We say we pay them honor
for all that they have lost
I say it is our duty and
it’s a small and tiny cost.
Every veteran is a hero
regardless what was done
for without every contribution
no battle could be won.
Next time you see a veteran
look them straight into the eye
you ought to pay them homage
for their friends that had to die.
Don’t take them for granted
bestow honor on those chaps
you never want to have regrets
at the sound of guns and ‘Taps’.
I hold the copyright on all my works.
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