Memorial

Reposted from 2008:

Please take a minute and 22 seconds to watch this clip. It contains some of my Uncle Bob's Memorial Service at Arlington National Cemetery in September 2006, and if you have never visited there, you should make an effort to go. Begun in Mrs. Robert E. Lee's rose garden during the Civil War, the 624 acre cemetery now contains the remains of soldiers and veterans from every American war. There is currently a five month wait to have a service at Arlington because of the wars in Iraq and Afganistan.

My Uncle Bob was a West Pointer. Class of 1945.

My Father Babe was a cadet, too. Class of 1946. He served in Korea and in Vietnam, and died in 1986. His doctors attributed his untimely death due to the amount of the herbicides and defoliants he was exposed to during his three tours of duty in Vietnam.

You may remember that I wrote about my mother's brother, Uncle Y in April. Please take a moment today to reflect on the courage and valor of all our armed forces. Past, present and future.

The entire time my father and Uncle Bob were students at West Point, their father, my grandfather, was a prisoner of war. By some twist of fate he was the highest ranking artillery officer during the Death March of Bataan in 1942, and remained a prisoner of the Japanese for the remainder of World War II. I have many of the letters and papers that belonged to my grandparents from this time, and among them is the following poem in my grandmother's hand, with the date May 21, 1942. He would have been in the POW camp at this point, and much communication was done via HAM radio; those who received messages, would send them on to the family members across the country. My grandmother Sugar had several messages from my grandfather sent to her this way. Many of them contained parts of this poem.

To Myrtle R. an Army Wife

Down East in USA

We have a message for you please - It came by Milky Way.

From prison camp in far Luzon the mystic message came,

Your husband is alive and well, and loves you just the same.

He held a post of high command with record brave and true.

He was faithful to his duty as he's ever been to you.

The soldier has no choice of time when country names the day.

The soldier has no choice of goals when duty points the way.

Such things are right and understood by army wives like you.

When soldiers drink the bitter cup, their wives must drink it too.

His isolation is complete by land and sea and air.

His only means of reaching you are thoughts and wish and prayer.

But Trans-Celestial ways are clear on starry nights in May.

The nights can turn some magic tricks that can't be done by day.

The crescent moon a wishing ship that sails a trackless blue,

Has brought the news of "Life and Hope" direct from him to you.

The charge is just a happy smile so dry your tears away,

And keep tuned in for later news the same time every day.

This message ends the usual way, your husband's words you hear.

"With Love and Kisses" for you all,

He ends it--Myrtle Dear.

I hope you'll join me in honoring all our military men and women everywhere today, and always.

Be Thou At Peace.