TRIBUTE TO OUR VETERANS

These pages are our Tribute
to our Veterans on Independance Day and every day.
Our Veterans, the best of our beloved America.

WE SALUTE OUR VETERANS

WE REMEMBER OUR VETERANS

(The following poem was written by Iris LBP
in honor of the following:

My Dad, Ira Cripe, a World War I Army Veteran,
my beloved Mike who served as a Marine and became a D.A.V.
and later died before we were married
staying forever in my Heart;
Chief Red Elk who is both a Veteran
and a Leader in the Native Traditional Ways,
all the Veterans in my family,
all the Veterans I am so privileged to care for as a R.N.
and all Veterans and their loved ones everywhere.)

We don't remember "Just the Politics of War;"
We don't remember "Just the Land of the Brave;"
We don't remember "Just the Flag of the Free;"
We don't remember "Just the Heritage of our History;"
We don't remember "Just our Loved Ones Blood Shed
so that we might be Free."

No, we remember a whole lot more.
A perfect people we are not;
Mistakes we've made and paid the price;
We even fought against our own American kin;
in certain, unhumane Wars "of Cause".

We remember more than just our American Dream.
We remember more than just our Heart Felt Prayers;
Most of All, We remember the Individual Lives---
Dads, Moms,Brothers,Sisters,
Husbands,Wifes,Sweethearts,Friends;
these loved ones are our American "Vets".

We remember our Veterans;
Some walk with us in this Journey of Life;
with scar-filled memories of dread.
Some actively recall the M.I.A.s;
they are not missing in our hearts,
for they are part of our heartbeat.
We honor also their comrades,
who lay in both known and unmarked soldier's graves,
for our freedom they gave the supreme sacrifice.

Yesterday, our Veterans of Today, made a painful choice.
To give us freedom, their best they gave.
We are humbled by our Veterans sacrifices.
We cannot imagine the Horrors they faced.
We do not fathom the Hell they lived.
In Strange Lands, our Veterans faught and bled.
We do not know all the Costs they paid.
We do know too many individual lives were torn,
in irrepairable,pain filled Loss.

Thanks is simply not enough,
As we remember America's Best....
Green Beret of Special Force,
and all our Military Soldiers of Yesterday;
These are our remembered Veterans of Today.

Love and Honor we can give.
Gentle and Tender Prayers we lift,
on behalf of our Veterans every day.
We actively seek new ways to show,
how deeply we appreciate our Veterans,
of the United States of America.
God bless our Veterans and America,
Home of the solder of yesterday,
and Veteran of today.

It is the Veteran who has paid the price,
so that we may live so sweetly,
in the Home of the Free,
Home of the Brave,
Home of our beloved U.S.A.

Written By: Iris M. Wilde R.N.
Next Page...click here