Memorial Day: A Dedication to All Those Who Have Served

In memory of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, here is my dedication to the men and women who fought to keep America free.

December 7, 1941 – The Beginning of World War ll

Here is a poem I wrote about that fateful day. This poem depicts the events of the day as I try to envision what a soldier on a ship felt that day which will live in our memory, and in our History, forever.

PEARL HARBOR (Awaken the sleeping giant)

Ships in the harbor and night has fallen
there’s a stillness in the air

A command was given as a man was driven
from bunk to bunk, “lights out” he would say

They would obey the rule and some would pray
all slept till morning refreshed
to greet the new day

As dawn awakes and shadows disappear
morning is soon here
The seventh day of December
and almost a new year

When a roar and a sound came out of the blue!
bombed our ships and slaughtered our crew!
as they stood lined up in the harbor

They were thrust about for the Devil’s need
to destroy the fleet and claim the lives
of Americans they thought defeated

Lives were lost and closest to our hearts departed
but we knew at last world war ll had started

With crew on board the Arizona lies in state
to mark this very important date
and to Remember Pearl Harbor

As the oil pops up from the bottom of the sea
a reminder comes and with a plea
from the crew below to keep America free
for they have Awaken the Sleeping Giant

by Penelope Nicholas

The Ultimate Sacrifice

From the beginning to the end of World War ll, we have lost many of our soldiers. Thousands maybe millions. World War ll was fought with men and women who loved America and gave the ultimate sacrifice, their lives.

When World War ll began, in every state of America, there were thousands who volunteered to serve. My brother was one of them. He fought in the Pacific. When he came home he was a totally different man.  Sometimes when asked a question he would answer or ignore it completely. He didn’t want to bring back the memory. Once, and only once, he mentioned the snipers in the trees, and, as the Americans tried to cross a stream, they were killed before they had a chance to cross.

He never would talk much about the war, but we, as a family knew, he had nightmares. My brother came back from the war but with afflictions that eventually took his life. My brother, Harry Savaris, was a true Patriot and even before he died, he said, “I would do it again for my country.”

Memorial day is a day to honor those who died and those vets who are still with us. The memory of a vet who fought has seen much too much and he lives with this memory every day of his life. He has seen his brother soldiers die before his eyes. He has seen children trying to play amongst the rubble stained by war. He has seen torture and destruction by men who have no value of life.

Sometimes the echos come back and he cannot sleep. These are our precious veterans of past wars who still march in parades and set flags on their soldier brother’s graves. These are the true Patriots of our country.

We lost many in foreign places, and I would like to share a poem by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. It is a very famous poem that leaves a very important message.

In Flanders Fields…