TommyK Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Just in case someone here has to give a speech for any memorial services tomorrow or Monday, I offer this famous poem: High Flight Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air.... Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace. Where never lark, or even eagle flew — And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, - Put out my hand, and touched the face of God. Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee No 412 squadron, RCAF Killed 11 December 1941 Thank YOU vets for making the world a better place. I only hope us young whipper snappers don't screw it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad1 Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 THANK YOU VETS !!!!!! And thanks for posting that poem. I'm going to pass it on to my Dad. He was a navigator in the US Air Force for 28 years; did one tour in Vietnam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aster1 Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 To all our Vets here that have served our country, I give you my most sincere and highest level of the following: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE & GOD BLESS !!!! We would not, could not be free and as safe as we are without you & your many sacrifices. I also wish to honor all those who can no longer be with us and will say a prayer for all of them (past & present)& their families. Aster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 As a proud veteran uf the US Army, I'll be more than happy to display my country's colors tomorrow. And many thanks to all my fellow vet's of all era's (and all countries). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Robert Service is well known for his poems about the Yukon Gold Rush, few know he served in both the Boer War and WWI. The following is a poem he wrote after the Boer War, I always think of it on Veterans Day. At 11:00 AM on Nov. 11, 1918 the guns fell silent, and the March began, it was, The March of the Dead, http://www.poetryconnection.net/poets/Robert_William_Service/5394 The March of the Dead The cruel war was over -- oh, the triumph was so sweet! We watched the troops returning, through our tears; There was triumph, triumph, triumph down the scarlet glittering street, And you scarce could hear the music for the cheers. And you scarce could see the house-tops for the flags that flew between; The bells were pealing madly to the sky; And everyone was shouting for the Soldiers of the Queen, And the glory of an age was passing by. And then there came a shadow, swift and sudden, dark and drear; The bells were silent, not an echo stirred. The flags were drooping sullenly, the men forgot to cheer; We waited, and we never spoke a word. The sky grew darker, darker, till from out the gloomy rack There came a voice that checked the heart with dread: "Tear down, tear down your bunting now, and hang up sable black; They are coming -- it's the Army of the Dead." They were coming, they were coming, gaunt and ghastly, sad and slow; They were coming, all the crimson wrecks of pride; With faces seared, and cheeks red smeared, and haunting eyes of woe, And clotted holes the khaki couldn't hide. Oh, the clammy brow of anguish! the livid, foam-flecked lips! The reeling ranks of ruin swept along! The limb that trailed, the hand that failed, the bloody finger tips! And oh, the dreary rhythm of their song! "They left us on the veldt-side, but we felt we couldn't stop On this, our England's crowning festal day; We're the men of Magersfontein, we're the men of Spion Kop, Colenso -- we're the men who had to pay. We're the men who paid the blood-price. Shall the grave be all our gain? You owe us. Long and heavy is the score. Then cheer us for our glory now, and cheer us for our pain, And cheer us as ye never cheered before." The folks were white and stricken, and each tongue seemed weighted with lead; Each heart was clutched in hollow hand of ice; And every eye was staring at the horror of the dead, The pity of the men who paid the price. They were come, were come to mock us, in the first flush of our peace; Through writhing lips their teeth were all agleam; They were coming in their thousands -- oh, would they never cease! I closed my eyes, and then -- it was a dream. There was triumph, triumph, triumph down the scarlet gleaming street; The town was mad; a man was like a boy. A thousand flags were flaming where the sky and city meet; A thousand bells were thundering the joy. There was music, mirth and sunshine; but some eyes shone with regret; And while we stun with cheers our homing braves, O God, in Thy great mercy, let us nevermore forget The graves they left behind, the bitter graves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Somebody please link the Youtube of the Sullivan Ballou letter reading from Ken Burns Civil War. Thank You. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSprdaGol34 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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