In honor of Memorial Day I would like to post a poem. The poem I chose is near and dear to my heart. In High School my mom recited this from memory in front of a school assembly. When I was in my junior year and had to choose a short oration, I proudly chose the same one.
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue][U]THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER[/U][/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]There’s a graveyard near the White House[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]Where the Unknown Soldier lies,[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]And the flowers there are sprinkled[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]With the tears from mother’s eyes.[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]I stood there not so long ago[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]With roses for the brave,[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]And suddenly I heard a voice[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]Speak from out the grave:[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]'I am the Unknown Soldier,"[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]The spirit voice began,[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]'And I think I have the right[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]To ask some questions man to man.[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]'Are my buddies taken care of?[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]Was their victory so sweet?[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]Is that big reward you offered[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]Selling pencils on the street?[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]'Did they really win the freedom[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]They battled to achieve?[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]Do you still respect that Croix de Guerre[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]Above that empty sleeve?[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]'Does a gold star in the window[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]Now mean anything at all?[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]I wonder how my old girl feels[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]When she hears a bugle call.[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]"And that baby who sang[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]‘Hello, Central, give me no man’s land’-[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]Can they replace her daddy[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]With a military band?[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]"I wonder if the profiteers[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]Have satisfied their greed?[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]I wonder if a soldier’s mother[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]Ever is in need?[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]'I wonder if the kings, who planned it all[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]Are really satisfied?[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]They played their game of checkers[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]And eleven million died.[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]'I am the Unknown Soldier[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]And maybe I died in vain,[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]But if I were alive and my country called,[/COLOR][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][COLOR=darkslateblue]I’d do it all over again."[/COLOR][/FONT]
[COLOR=darkslateblue]Author: Billy Rose[/COLOR]
Sorry,should of put gals down also for Thanks:muah: