To Absent Friends

Their memories are evergreen;
they speak to us and march unseen
through all our hearts in things we shared,
in dreams we lived and goals we dared.

They're still with us, although they're gone;
the legacies they left live on
and we salute them all today,
the ones we lost while "by the bay".

- ©Betty Winslow

This poem was written to commemorate the 30 March 1995 dedication of a memorial plaque that was hung in U. S. Naval Academy's Memorial Hall that year. The plaque contains all of the names of the midshipmen over the years of USNA's history who have died before their graduation. Included on it is that of my daughter,Midn. 1/c Lisa M. Winslow, USNA Class of 94.

I sent the poem electronically to the entire brigade beforehand and it was read aloud at the conclusion of the ceremony by USNA Superintendent Admiral William Larson, the best thing to ever happen to me as a poet.