Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

May 27, 2007

Today’s Stories

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Memorial Day 2007

J. Lewis Dean

                                                      
Today is Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day. A day that was began right here in my home state of Mississippi long ago by some women would visit the cemeteries on this day, and place flowers on the graves of all of the soldiers that had passed on. Once word had spread of what was taking place on this day in Mississippi, the President and Congress formally adopted it as a national holiday and renamed it, "Memorial Day." A very special day now set aside to recognize nationally the lives lost in the defense of liberty and justice and in protection of our country and it's people.

With so many great wars behind us, and one that is currently taking place in the sands of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan. I cannot help but be reminded of two of the worst days in American history. Two days that both almost equally destructive to us, and both led us into the middle of great wars, in which young American soldiers have shown us great honor and courage, in true American tradition. I am talking about the attacks of Pearl Harbor on December  07, 1941, and the attacks of September 11th, 2001. As I said, both of them almost equally destructive and deadly to us, and both leading us into great wars.

On December 7th, 1941, the U.S. Navy's 2nd fleet was sitting in port in Pearl Harbor, all of the sailors and airmen going about their daily routines on a quiet peaceful day, but they had no idea of the horror that loomed in the future of that day before the sun would set. The Japanese would make their presence known before days end, and so many lives would perish in the wake.

I think of them working, playing, talking and enjoying the day, until those first Japanese Zeros flew over dropping their munitions of death upon them. Then I think of the horror and instant shock that raced through their minds. Those trapped within the faltering ships at port, steadily sinking in the deep dark waters. Their friend's on the outsides of the ships working diligently to free their trapped comrades before the ships finally sunk. Those trapped inside these sinking caskets, swimming, chasing air pockets as the water rose around them, chasing these pockets of air, until the rising water had pushed these small air pockets into small compartments and corners. The water still rising out of control, the precious life sustaining air these men chased, now being pushed from the ship completely through small openings in the ship's hull, holes big enough to let life sustaining air escape freely, but holes too small to let life itself escape.

Those trapped inside now pushing their noses into these shallow pockets of air, gasping for what breath they could get., while screaming, crying out to those on the outside for help, until finally the air pockets were gone, then taking one final breat and holding what breath they holding it their lungs, knowing that all the life they had left, they now held inside their lungs. Soon their brain's desire for oxygen took over, and with a gasp for breath they exhale and breathe in lungs full of nothing but the cold salty ocean water that they had been trying so desperately to escape, and within seconds, their bodies go limp, and they began to sink slowly to the ship's hull dying. Their friends on the outsides who had been trying to free them, feel their hands that they had been holding through some of these small openings go limp, they know life is gone, with tears, anger and horror, they released their friends to eternity at the bottom of the sea.

Now sixty-five years later, we find ourselves almost 6 years in the wake of another great attack that led us into yet another great war for justice and peace. The attacks of September 11th. Again our soldiers, airmen, and sailors are deployed in harm's way, seeking justice for that dastardly attack as well, just as they did in World War Two immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor. During WW II we supported our troops completely. There we no demonstrations and protests in the streets, there was no such thing as people and celebrities saying such idiotical things as; "I support our troops but I do not support the war." The two cannot exist together, for one is the other when at war.

We have flag covered caskets coming home daily now, the same as we did in WW II, and the only way to make that stop happening quicker, is to get behind your troops completely, and demanding that the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, be treated like a war 100%, and that is to demand of your elected officials that our troops be allowed to fight to win, fight the way we trained them to fight, instead of treating it like a police action as it is being done now.
It is no doubt whatsoever, that The United States Armed Forces has the power, the courage, and the technology to fight and defeat any nation on earth. We will have our casualties yes, that is expected in war, but we have what it takes to win. We just have to go into it and allow our troops to use their training, use their courage and technology. In doing this, victory will come sooner than later, and by victory coming sooner than later, that is les flag covered caskets returning home to us, and less soldier graves that we have to sadly visit and place flowers on, on this day, Memorial Day.

J. Lewis Dean

Memorial Day 2007

Email: JLewisDean@aol.com

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Memorial Day 2007
Bill Walker
missourisage@yahoo.com

Memorial Day again. You will find Bill out taking a short walk by
some old soldiers graves. nothing new, I do this every year. I never
knew these soldiers, that may be true, but I like walking by, and
saying "Hi guys, thanks much for what you all did." Some of these
will have name, branch, and rank on the marker. Some will have only the
words. Unknown, and a date of death. All will have a flag. Those I
will stop by for a minute, and think a few thoughts.

There has been, over the years many an unknown soldier. I guess now with
the new tests that can be done, there isn't any guess work on who the
person is. Korea and before there was many unknown soldiers.

I know I have told this before, but will tell it again. I have walked
the National Cemetery at Springfield, Missouri. There was a Civil
War battle fought just south of Springfield. A bloody battle, many
a good man was cut down in the prime of life, both north and south.
These now rest at this National Cemetery. There is a wall between the
soldiers of the north, and south. I think this is wrong myself.
Maybe a road would serve better. These brothers are no longer at war
with one another, these are at peace with one another. There is many
of the markers with the word. "Unknown."

I have visited the place of this battle, Wilson Creek. If one stands
still, and thinks a bit. One can hear, and smell the battle going on
yet. Then the sound clears, the smell goes away. All is at peace,
and quite again. It was a bloody day in American history, a battle
between men in Blue, and men in Gray. God knows who was right, and
who was wrong. But men fighting for what they thought at the time was
right. Americans All.

Memorial Day is a day to remember those that gave their  all to make,
and keep this nation a free nation. It is not a day of picnics, ball
games, and a day off from work. It is a special day to remember, and
give honor to those who gave you your freedom. Yes, old Bill will take a
short walk, and say "Hi, guys, many thanks for what you all did."
Tinker and Poo; The Boys Write
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?&isbn=0-595-35741-5

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Poetry Corner

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In Appreciation of our Soldiers,

By Cynthia Groopman

Oh, fine young soldiers, so strong and brave,

To protect the cherished light of freedom, your life you so nobly gave.

.

Venturing to different lands to serve your country,

A blessing you shall always be.

In adversity's dangerous face, you did stand straight and tall,

When your nation asked you to fight, you obediently heeded

the call.

Suffering such sorrows, and intense pain,

A true valiant hero you did remain.

For you did not wince or cry aloud,

Your actions of gallantry made us so proud.

Thus, we honor you with majestic praise,

Paying homage to you on this Memorial Day.

Cynthia Groopman

cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

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 A Memorial Day Message
Cynthia Groopman

Abiding in my thoughts,
Are the many lessons of courage and bravery,
All of you dear soldiers have taught.
 Cower or  hide, you did not do,
 As you gallantly fought to preserve the Red, White and Blue,
 In distant and foreign lands, you did fight,
Enabling us to cherish and rejoicefully bask
In freedom's precious golden light.
 In the throes of adversity, you did not wince or cry aloud,
 As you displayed such heroism standing tall, and proud.
 For in high esteem  we cherish and value you,
With deepest appreciation and admiration, everlasting, and true.


Cynthia Groopman
cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2006 Cynthia Groopman

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War's Raging Flame
Cynthia Groopman

Oh, war, why must your flame rage,
As it has tormented everything on life's stage.
For three years,
We only have experienced the flowing of rivers of blood and tears.
Oh, war's dangerous flame,
Why must you inflict hatred and shame?
Like vicious animals that are so wild and untamed,
Oh, war, we abhor your angry roaring flame.
Into hearts terror and blight were placed,
As trials and heinous death were faced.
For war's evil flame, you are so strong,
And how I yearn to hear the white dove's tranquil peaceful song.


Cynthia Groopman
cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2006 Cynthia Groopman

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For Peace, I Yearn
Cynthia Groopman

For peace, Oh, I truly yearn,
is it too late for us war weary souls to stop and learn,
I cannot wait,
for the bloodshed to end,
Oh, I pray it will not be too late.
Oh, I pray that the final blow will not succumb all,
when civilization will crumble and fall.

Let us try,
when will the roaring drumbeats of the lion of war cease,
oh, I pray to see an everlasting peace.
We must ask why.
When will the white dove of peace fly over each and every land?
and when will all forgive and take each other's hand?


Cynthia Groopman
cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net
Copyright ©2004 Cynthia Groopman

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A COMBAT SOLDIER'S PRAYER
by Gary Jacobson © 1999

jacobs@atcnet.net

http://namtour.com/prayer.html

This combat soldier's prayer,
Who has served his time in Hell,
Is may we learn the lessons of war well,
That we not doom future generations,
The same old tales of horror to tell,
To endure what in youth they see mistakenly as glory.
Oh God, do not let our children
Repeat the same old story.

Make it so that America's babies live to grow old
In this land of the free and the bold.
Help us throw off the shackles of hate that bind
And grow old in a life of a peaceful kind.

Teach us that there is no glory in war,
Nor honor there that brave men should not abhor.
Teach us instead, one for another our brothers to love.
Shower us with thine Celestial message from above,
That we plant seeds of peace evermore
And make war-no-more!

But if I should die on some far, far away battlefield
Know I answered the call
For a grand principle of freedom to yield.
My fervent prayer is that death
May not have been in vain
Fighting for peace and right for the world to attain.

My brothers, American roses standing by my side
On alien soil dying
In the summer of my youthful pride
All the leaves around me falling,

Now I’m lying here still, in sunshine and in shadow,
Longing to hear, “brother next door, I love you so."
For moldering in the soft ground below,
I feel you living and loving in the world above me
Standing tall because I fought that you might be...
Oh look ye down now,
And tell me you still think of me
Honor my red blood, spilt that others might stand free.

Tell me that I did not give my all for you in vain
That brothers and sisters do not look upon my sacrifice
With hateful,
Or even worse,
Uncaring disdain.

Do not forget me when my valley’s hushed
And white with snow,
Grass growing green in the summer of my meadow
Help me see the peace I lived and died for grow.

Make my lonely grave richer,
Sweeter be...
Make this truly,
"The land of the free
And the home of the brave,"
I gave my life to save
That I might too, lie eternally,
Forever free...

Readers Feedback

Carol, thanks for sharing your beautiful, heartwarming story "Tissues to
Wipe Away Tears" with your readers. I cried when I read it. It's a
"Keeper" and went into my Inspirational folder.

Blessings,
Janet

Carol,
    Thanks for including me in storytime today.  I am always so happy to read the wonderful stories here.  It is a joy being a part of them.  I often wonder if we could see the souls inside the bodies whose would be the brightest and most beautiful.  Wishing you every joy, Joe

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