Memorial Day - I am here

You may not see me.... But I am here
You may not feel me.... But I am here
You may not know my name...  But I am here

I am your forefather
I am your brother
I am your sister
Your father your mother, aunt and uncle, niece and nephew
I am...

Guardian of the night while your head rests upon a pillow
Keeper of the peace while you roast marshmallows.
A spirit that lingers across the land,
The reason a child holds a small flag in his tiny hand.

My folded flag is encased in glass with my many medals
My photo sits proudly besides it.
My uniforms hang silently in a closet
My dog tags dangle from the corner of a mirror.

But I am here.
My spirit lives on among you
Fighting side by side with my brothers and sisters in uniform
Preserving your freedom, watching over you.

I am here...
I am a Soldier, a Seaman, an Airman
I am here

Soldier's Cry

I run into the darkness, the smoke filled air; listening and looking for the light that will take me back to where peace can be found.  I stumble slightly, on the debris that lies at my feet.  The debris that tries to bring me down to it's level, tries to stop me from the goal that lies ahead of me.  I move on among the pain and suffering, I move on through the stench and retched.  I move on, weight upon my back, weapon within my hand, I move on...

The sounds become more distinct, the light shines brighter with every step of my heavy feet.  Eventually I break through the death that surrounds me.  A soldier's cry for help echos through the remains of the shambles of a room.  I run to him...  I care for him...  I remove him from his near grave...  I take him to safety...

He goes home...

I walk through the dirt and smoke filled air, looking, looking, looking for the wounded.  I risk all that I know to be good, that others may live...