Wednesday, 30 May 2007
 

2007.05.30 Patriotism in America Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Two great ones ones you don't want to miss: From Kit Jarell: "In the Company of the Brave" (go read it) and from Palmetto Silver, "The Silence and the Thunder" (below the fold.)

The Silence and the Thunder
Palmetto Silver

It was blistering hot and muggy. Moisture oozed from every pore in my face and the face of everyone else in that crowd. We stood on the steps facing the Tomb. It holds the bones of men who gave their lives in service to their country and whose names are known only to God. Their identities will never be known to man. We who sat were young, old, of various heritage and many languages. Some came from far away, some from the city just over the bridge. Our differences were there for all to see and yet one compelling component bound us together as one. The silence. It rolled over everyone who approached the steps and took their place in the crowd. It carried to restless children who though hot and tired were compelled by the solemnity to watch in utter quietness. Babies in strollers only let out a brief, muted wail as though even they in their infancy knew that they were in the presence of greatness. The silence deepened as the guards began their honored ritual of change. The click of their heels sounded like gunshot in the backdrop of silence. The crowd moved not, spoke not, it seemed almost breathed not. The silence was one of awe-filled respect. There laid men who had shared their lifeblood and had given their all. We in the crowd seemed to know of our mere mortality in the face of such greatness. They deserved our silence, as words could not define their sacrifice, their courage, their commitment. Talking would have been noise, denigrating and demeaning. The tombs said it all. In utter silence, we watched as the guards completed their march. Respect could ask no less.

It was still beastly as I stood on the bridge and in the distance saw the bright lights of the cavalry. They came preceded by those who have sworn to enforce the law. They came with a rumble, with a roar, with a thundering reminder that we owe those men and women who go off to service our thanks, our commitment and our remembrance of them always. They came in wave upon wave, bikes with leather-clad drivers who carried the flame of those who have fallen and those for whom there has been no accounting. They came with a rumble, a thunder, a roar to remind us that freedom is never free, that duty often means death, and that we as a nation have our liberties today because of those who have sacrificed their own. They rode with honor, with pride, with purpose. They rode with a mission. And in the thunder I heard the respect and honor that the pipes cried to communicate." Let us never forget", they roared. "Let us honor those who have served" they called to a seemingly indifferent nation. "Let us respect our flag, our country, our heritage and our people". Rolling Thunder, rumbling to shake the conscience of a people that seems so easily to forget those who have given their blood and on whose backs this country has been built.

Then I saw them up close and personal. These men had been there. They saw the jungles; they heard the bombs, they served their country. They still have the memories and weep as they walk the Wall. They know the stories of those names forever etched in stone….who they were and how they died. As I watched on that sweltering day, I saw clearly heroes among us. Beneath the gray of the hair and aging of the flesh, I saw the steel, the resolve, the mettle of real men. I saw the strength of character that had caused them to give their personal liberty for their country. I saw a certain confidence, maybe yes, even a swagger in their walk. They know who they are; they know what they are. They know what they did not do and what they did do. They know their own and they are proud. I saw handshakes, hugs, and nods. There was an unspoken communication that those of us on the outside cannot share….only those who are part of that brotherhood can understand. They are the vets and they are proud. In addition, perhaps what in my mind came to be the most amazing paradox was that though their own fellow citizens, their own society mocked, scorned and spit upon many of them, they are still the vanguard of the colors. They honor the flag and they know the meaning of liberty. Wounds are still there but they move beyond to the enduring legacy they know they have left. Theirs is a legacy of character, of strength, of sacrifice. In their gathering, they prove the great fiber of the country. We have become the nation that we are because of men who gave and asked nothing in return. We are a nation with protected freedoms because of the Unknown Soldier, the wounded soldier, the POW, the one still unaccounted for and who perhaps will remain ever in obscurity, and the vet who lives and works and moves incognito among us.

In the silence, let us ponder and with thunder, let us remember.

God bless America.

Contributed by Bill Faith on May 30, 2007 at 10:50 AM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Palmetto Silver | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Wednesday, 28 February 2007
 

Listen for the rumble, listen for the roar
Contributed by Bill Faith

It's no secret to readers of my old site that I'm a major fan of the Patriot Guard Riders. I participated in one PGR  mission last spring and found out, unfortunately, that my body's just not up to that sort of thing any more. It tears me up a little inside every time I have to pass on another mission, just as it's tearing me up not to be able to be at The Wall next month. Thanks go to Palmetto Silver, whom you met here, for sending me this:

IN HONOR OF ALL OF YOU
Palmetto Silver

Listen for the rumble, listen for the roar
They ride for all that's good and true, cross-country shore to shore
Through the rain, the cold, the heat, it matters not how hard
They ride for honor, for respect; they are the Patriot Guard.

Years ago a war was fought, the vets were scorned and honored not
Now a new fight rages on and once again the land is fraught
With those who would deride and taunt those soldiers noble and true.
They mock the cause, they mock our land, they mock the red, white and blue

Riders heard, said "Never again. We'll stand and silence this sound
Of those who bring disrespect to solemn, sacred, blood-stained ground"
They gathered flags and on bikes they rode to quell the evil chant
In honor could the families grieve;  rumbling engines drowned the rant.

Listen for the rumble, listen for the roar
They ride for all that's good and true, cross-country shore to shore
Through the rain, the cold, the heat, it matters not how hard
They ride for honor, for respect; they are the Patriot Guard.

In every state across the land one can hear of this brave group
Some are past soldiers, others not, but they are a blood sworn troop.
To honor, respect those who serve with an honor mission ride
No fame desired, they lay low, the Soldiers their one source of pride.

Listen for the rumble, listen for the roar
They ride for all that's good and true, cross country shore to shore
Through the rain, the cold, the heat, it matters not how hard
They ride for honor, for respect; they are the Patriot Guard.

On bikes, in cars and trucks full bore they come with one cause in mind
To honor a soldier for service true, and in that call they find
Freedom's light is shining still oer all this vast America land.
God bless you all as you serve so well......The Patriot Guard band.

I hope since PGR doesn't provide permalink addresses for things on their site they'll forgive me for copying this in it's entirety:

Official BoD's Position on the Gathering of Eagles

Hello Folks,

This is the official response of the Board of Directors of the PGR in response to the Gathering of Eagles scheduled to take place on 17 MAR 07 at the Vietnam Memorial Wall.

We urge our members to follow their conscience and participate in this event if that is your desire as an individual. In regards to your PGR gear, that is yours, wear it proudly and as you see fit. It is not our place or desire to dictate what our members wear - nor where they wear it.

This event is not a Patriot Guard Riders mission; however, it is an event in which our members are urged to participate as to their own individual desire. The organizations rallying this endeavor are more than capable of organizing this event without the PGR acting in an offical manner. The support of our individual members will surely be welcomed - just as we welcome other organizations that stand with us.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial - or The Wall as it is often called - is sacred ground. It is considered as such by not only the Patriot Guard Riders - but by patriots everywhere. 58,000 American Soldiers are remembered on that majestic granite wall and their memories are part of the foundation of the PGR’s soul. “Never Again” is a term we have all come to know. These words are not hollow in the eyes of the Patriot Guard Riders, nor the Board of Directors that are tasked with guiding the PGR as a national entity. They are the backbone, the soul, and the spirit of an organization that has vowed to all to do what is right.

In closing, support this endeavor as you see fit. Stand in support of the organizations that are rallying to insure no defacement happens to that hallowed ground. Stand for those who stood for US.

Do the memory of those heroes proud who are listed on the Wall. Do the PGR proud by remembering the avenues of respect we practice daily and hold dear our methods of operation. Stand tall and silent my friends as is our custom.

Reverence doesn't scream a rallying cry nor politcal slogan.
Respect doesn't degrade itself to physical confrontation.
And, Honor rises above all.

To quote a reporter from the Chicago Tribune who just witnessed his first PGR mission, "The silence of 200 people holding flags - was deafening." Amen brother. Amen.

Thank You.

http://www.gatheringofeagles.org/ 

Contributed by Bill Faith on February 28, 2007 at 12:37 AM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Palmetto Silver, Patriot Guard Riders, Poetry | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Wednesday, 21 February 2007
 

I say to you, though I am only one....
Contributed by Bill Faith

Palmetto Silver is an active participant in the Gathering of Eagles forum, where Rurik saw one of her poems and introduced us. I'm grateful to both of them.

To a Viet Nam Vet
Palmetto Silver

You had no choice - the big man's decree
Had changed your life, you were not free
To live and work in a quiet place
You were now a dog tag, a nameless face.

They trained you hard, they trained you well.
You were prepared for a living hell
and to that hell you went and fought.
You did your job, no laurels sought.

You did your time with all your might
Courage, faith, your creed your only light.
Searing images on your mind...
No respite from them could you find.

And then to our great country's shame
We turned and spat, dishonored your name.
No cheering shouts, no songs of praise...
We looked at you with denigrating gaze.

But you carried on and stood the test
You lived your lives of quiet rest
Still deep within the pain ceased not
It seemed your countrymen simply forgot.

This will not suffice for all the years
You thought of your comrades with heavy tears
It will not ease the buried pain
Of a country turned in cold disdain.

But know this one thing, Warrior Man
I'd be proud to shake your hand
To thank you for your service true
You answered the call of the red, white and blue.

Our country should be shamed still yet
To think we ignored even just one vet
You gave your all, the best there was...
And then came home to no applause.

I say to you, though I am only one....
Thank you for a job well done.

Contributed by Bill Faith on February 21, 2007 at 01:32 AM in Caring about our troops, Palmetto Silver, Poetry, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, 18 February 2007
 

Gathering of Eagles: The Poem
Contributed by Bill Faith

Thank you Rurik for spotting this and getting me permission to post it.

Gathering of Eagles
Palmetto Silver

It was 76 and a battle was raging to give man the right to be free.
Men fought with weapons that could not be silenced
Not just of iron but of faith, of courage, and love of liberty

Shots rang in Concord and Lexington, Valley Forge and Bunker Hill.
As freedom was marched through the streets of each town
Men gave their all, their life and their blood – each of his very own will.

And all over the land as the gunfire roared in each great volley of sound
The skies would hear a new echo as the great flocks in the sky
Gave vent with their screeching and shrieks to that noise on the ground.

The great eagles had wakened, had heard freedom's soul-wrenching cry.
And from their berth high above the fierce storm of mankind
They watched as this nation, young and strong, spread its wings to fly.

The eagles have flown for hundreds of years guarding this country brave.
They have blessed the blood soaked warriors of each battle fought
And have sung in great chorus high above for the sacrifice each one gave.

The eagles are watching and we will watch with them to honor sacred ground.
Each name is a symbol of cherished hope and so with claws unfurled they
Guard the tombs where the silence of freedom is an overwhelming sound.

And those of men who would deface the Wall and the ground it lies upon
Should know the eagle flies and swoops from high above the land
Protecting, caring, wings outstretched to secure from those would do wrong.

As liberty came those years ago, so it will continue on its mighty swell
And some will die and some will fall from giving of their blood.
But the eagle lifts them high to solemn ground, freedom's story to tell.

Contributed by Bill Faith on February 18, 2007 at 09:32 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Palmetto Silver, Poetry | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack