Archives at Zinester: May 29, 2005 - Special Memorial Treat - Gary Jacobson. Storytime

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Special Memorial Day Treat ??“ Gary Jacobson

May 29, 2005

Carol, here are a few of the Memorial Day poems I've written ... use them as you will.

Also, for those interested in hearing my dulcet tones in person, please post the following:

Veteran poet, Gary Jacobson, will be featured live on the "Firebase Veteran's Hour," worldwide Internet satellite radio network, this coming Sunday, May 29, 5:00 to 6:00 PM *Central Standard Time* (please adjust according to daylight standard time in your location). The program will feature a reading of some of his popular Vietnam poetry, specific to honoring the veteran on Memorial Day!

The program can be heard live via satellite, and free through your computer.

Listening is very easy. Just left click this link, http://www.gcnlive.com/sunday.htm , and there will be four network feed boxes...just left click one of these four, according to the media player installed on your computer, (Real Player, Windows Media Player, or Winamp media player) and you will be automatically tuned into the program live via your computer on one of the four satellites. Please tune in, and happy listening!

************

Flag Artwork by a combat veteran brother Jinks

When the parade Passes By

http://namtour.com/ParadePassesBy.html
by Gary Jacobson ?© May 2005

Memorialize fathers, brothers, sons, when the parade passes by
Proudly salute them, gazing on ethereal heavens rising high
Caught like a stone in your throat, heave for them a heavy sigh.
Slumber deep, brave heroes, under the Master's watchful eye.
That they might today in peace and honor dwell
Who in the good fight lost mortality...
Now risen on high into immortality.

As the parade passes by
See mesmerized glories dancing in young men??™s eye
Galvanized by sparks of war, exciting great mystery
Repeated throughout annals of man??™s history.
See young men standing tall, standing proud
Heads held high above the belligerent crowd.
See tears glistening, eyes of mother??™s cloud.
O, how their passing, an entire generation bowed.

Let our praises ring out
In great hue and shout
Jubilant will patriotism in our hearts swell
Rapturous as again we hear that holy knell
Remembering those who gave all that we might be
Living, loving in this great land of liberty.
Endowed by they who paid the ultimate price
Revere we now their noble sacrifice.

See the soldiers march in noble stride
Showing resolve that never will from duty hide.
O, in memory may we ever hold them fast
Men who loved their country, so deep, so vast
Enough to lay down their very life ... for you
To evil's incarnate in battle eschew.
Cast their immortal souls into our hearts and mind
For no better friends can mortal man find.

Feel a brave man's touch as the parade passes by
Know that some will for you surely die.
O look down upon them with fond elation
Their duty in life Consecration
Deserves a hearty victor??™s celebration
Pay tender devotion for their life's dedication
Sore oppressed by the soldier's chore
Abominate battle??™s daily bore.

Keep forever for them home-fires burning
For their return to ???the world??™ for which they??™re yearning.
God does a warrior??™s valiant spirit adore
For truly on earth, they His arm of righteousness bore.
I shared an ache that day, touched by that being supernal
Seeing glimpses of budding hearts, passing into the eternal.
Borne again without sorrow, pity or grief
Rest ye now in the arms of the Holy Commander in Chief.

As the parade passes by in all its gaudy spectacle
Marching soldiers appear indeed as God??™s holy tabernacle
Vessels on earth who do God's will, receiving richest blessing
Veneration in congratulation, tribute, reverence in rejoicing.
God bless brothers merely going ahead to prepare the way
For brothers-in-arms meet in warrior??™s Valhalla some day.
O hear the shouts of glorious reunion in the skies
When warriors loft again on high the victor??™s prize.

Soldiers of the Wall

by Gary Jacobson ?© July 1999

Oh we??™re soldiers of the wall,
We??™ve fought and died for one and all.
We??™re just resting here you see
To see if our blood shed kept you free
A patriot??™s dream for liberty.

We didn??™t wish to die,
When we heard that clarion cry,
A call to arms set us on this course.
And we??™d do??™er again without remorse.
For we??™d rather be men than shirk
When our country needs us to do dirty work
For we know that freedom is not free
And our children must grow tall in liberty

We can see the purple mountain majesty,
From our wall,
See huddling masses yearning to be free,
From our wall.
We see a nation built on honesty,
Fought for with our blood of integrity.
We see great courage maintained in modesty
From our place here on the wall
Standing so proud and so tall.

We are the ones our country called
To trample tyranny beloved freedom galled.
We bore in might
Righteous spirit of right.
We fought evil in Vietnam devastating.
Armed with fire and lightning,
Forces of communism dissipating,
Vietcong bastions wherein wrath lay stored
Fell to America's terrible swift sword.

American soldiers prayed goodness
Of justice would at longlast prevail
Common freedoms to Vietnamese avail.
But it was not to be...
Now as soldiers of the wall
Forever stand we,
Symbols of courageous struggle for liberty,
Of the best of us valiantly fallen
Blest youth forever stolen.

We hope our sacrifice wasn??™t in vain
For we gave our lives in suffering pain.
Where heroes proved
More than life, their country loved.
Endowed with great courage and strength,
We went to any length,
Fighting in Nam??™s gore and mud
To inspire young men??™s red blood
To crown our nation with noble brotherhood.

We fought to make a difference
To stand in might, for right's defense.
We watched our buddies die,
Followed them in death by and by
Standing brave, and standing tall.
Finding gloried honor on this granite wall.

Oh we??™re soldiers of the wall,
We??™ve fought and died for one and all.
We??™re just resting here you see
To see if our blood shed kept you free
A patriot??™s dream for liberty.

We heard the distant sound of the gun
To Vietnam did run.
We did not look behind
As valorous courage we seemed to find.
So do not shed for us faint tears
See our dream for country,
See beyond the years

As we bled in the jungles of hell
We knew we were doing our duties well.
For we answered our country??™s call,
'Cause someone had to do it.
We soldiers fighting in Nam's misty pall,
Gave a gift to our beloved...our all.

Oh we??™re soldiers of the wall,
We??™ve fought and died for one and all.
We??™re just resting here you see
To see if our blood shed kept you free
A patriot??™s dream for liberty.

It??™s lonely and so cold here.
I hope people never forget us here,
In this black marbled granite bier.
For the sign of a man,
Is the amount of respect he gives
For fathers and brothers who gave all for them
Who now on that lonely wall lives.

Was our sacrifice worth it, can you see
Do you honor our proud victory
Fought and won for you and me...
Though sad we be for our sainted mothers,
Do not cry for me my brothers
But give to my death meaning
beyond my moldering grave greening.

We pray with all power in our hearts
For men guiding,
Standing safeguard protecting
Our great nation,
Brave men standing between loved ones
And war??™s unholy devastation.

Always remember with love and respect
Those who strains of freedom reflect
From that hallowed wall,
Revered now by us all.
Remember those living in darkning shadow
Who with courage and honor jousted
With freedom??™s malignant foe.

Oh we??™re soldiers of the wall,
We??™ve fought and died for one and all.
We??™re just resting here you see
To see if our blood shed kept you free
A patriot??™s dream for liberty.

Spirits In The Wind

by Gary Jacobson ?© July 2000

Talk to the wall...
Touch it, with heartfelt tears after all
In soft stillness of peace enthrall
Reach out,
Reach through sacred silence all about
Touch the shadowed inner man
Carress in fondness, finally understand
His ethereal manifestation
Revered spiritual incarnation
Feel their spirits lingering in the wind
Feel a brother??™s hand
On your shoulder friend.

Put a red rose under a buddies name...
Feeling guilt in sobered shame
Lean your head against that holy bier
Rivers of tears your weeping heart sear,
Whisper the ageless question why
Unashamedly cry
Why did you live and he have to die?
Why did a brother have to taste of death
A valiant soldier??™s life blood dearth
Brave the warrior??™s final heroic breath?

Feel their spirits lingering in the wind
Their sacred message tend
Spread to all the world to send
As you wonder with wearied guilt
Comfort pouring over you like water spilt
Feel the spirits of courageous men
Which writers pen.
Brothers who suffered hard knocks
In war's staggering din...
Now of life bereft
For whom a nation wept
As hot days in ???the Nam??? you recall
Touch blackened granite covering honored
Battalions all.
Why is your name not beside brothers
Etched on that honored wall?

Feel their spirits lingering in the wind
Emotions from ???the world??? transcend
The very air breathes honors to all
Reverently touch the black cloaked pall
That special place on the consecrated wall
Battle again those who rights of others rend
Another's freedoms with your life defend
Extend a hand to the downtrodden
Once more in honor to lend
On buddies guarding your back
Again depend.
Once again mingle
With brothers to the manner born
For days of grandest horror mourn.

Feel their spirits lingering in the wind
Comrades until time itself does end
United again in a moment of holy sacrament
To fight for right self evident
To stand for freedom again
Again to righteously defend!
Spirit and soul with brothers attend
Ministering spirits of light and darkness
Gather round the warrior host??™s essence
An old soldier??™s heart to the wall commend
As spirits of warrior brothers blend.

Walk Softly Among The Sacred Graves
by Gary Jacobson ?© 2001

Walk softly among the sacred graves...
For today in memorial the very air interweaves
In braveries sweetest breath leaves
Blessings on this hallowed plot
Where courageous men unselfishly wrought
Carried the lamp of liberty fearful nation??™s sought
Fighting for those oppressed who would not be slaves
Battled tyrannical oppressors who liberties bastion depraves.

Walk softly among the sacred graves...
For freedoms grandest hope at long last raves
For them a grateful nation in memorial bestows
On those boys lying peaceful now in sweetest repose
Our most favored sons
Who valiantly faced hatreds flaring guns
Wielding valiant freedom??™s flaming sword
Unjust despots with might of right abhorred
Men of noble calling stood up to tyrannies bullies
That the very precept of morality sullies.

Walk softly among the sacred graves...
Loyal sacrifice upon sanctified ground engraves
Righteous spirits now comfort those that grieve
Who cannot bring themselves to believe
Somber sound of guns lay now in silence of retreat
All anguish withdrawn from battle's dews and heat
Abiding peaceful dignities grave discreet
No longer in war's wretched hurting
No rival disconcerting.
No longer buffeted with grim anger's agony
Finally free...
Finally free...
Oh God, of this mortal foil they're free...

Walk softly among the sacred graves...
Give the due beleaguered spirit craves
Our sons
Our daughters
Loved liberty more than life
Our fathers
Our mothers
Held fast to cherished values in glory rife
Our brothers
Our sisters
Freed now from all worries strife
Our beloved who gallantly answered the call
In reverential honor stood proud, and very tall.

Walk softly among the sacred graves...
Honor stouthearted men who very adoration bereaves
Who heard a trumpets divine cadence
Rushed to give a patriots breath in honor??™s defense
Always faithful,
Ever memorable,
Doing their duty without question or pause
Defending the weak in independence cause.

Walk softly among the sacred graves...
Feel lingering spirits the fight eternal right braves
In the flower of youth snatched
Respect those in horrors misery dispatched
Their loss lingering dear
Bringing sadness lo many a year
Losing a generations brightest hope
Loved ones sad and wearily cope.

Walk softly among these sacred graves...
Witness consecrated dying that forever waves
Great joy lies among these revered stones too
For brave soldiers did forthrightly tyrants eschew
Engaging dictators with lightning swords of truth
Stole thunder from the fascist bigmouth
Who individual rights would evilly suppress
May their honored peace forever and ever
Humbled hearts bless...
For the life we live, in truth, they gave us...

Gone To Higher Ground
by Gary Jacobson ?© 2001
Oh those silent whitened crosses
Heroic symbol of a nations greatest losses
Holding vanquished spirits of warriors slain
Laid low to saddened trumpets refrain
Flowers of youth planted there moldering
Beloved tearing
In hallowed dust crumbling...

But they are not there. No, not at all...
Good troopers one and all
Our brightest and best arose from that grassy mound
Again they answered the greater call,
Gone to higher ground!

~The Veteran~
VietnamGrunt

by Gary Jacobson ?© 2000

All hail the honorable Veteran,
Whether serving as cook, tanker, combat infantryman
Standing hickory tall and proud,
Silvery head held high above the crowd
Eagle eyes burning no longer sharp and keen
Burnt preserving freedom??™s light they??™ve seen.

A nations veterans put body and soul on the line,
Patrolling the valley of shadowed Hell??™s rhyme
Holding in pride now till the end of time
Deep feeling through unforgiven weeping
Remembering times with anticipations of dying
Hell on earth surviving...

Ask a veteran about Hell and High Water
He??™ll likely map out coordinates brother
Likely carries brimstone souvenirs in his rucksack
Cause they??™ve been there and back
Hells fire still burning in their eye
Never forgetting brothers who still over there lie.

Veterans gave their very best
Preserved sacred values for all the rest
Honoring a land more than life they love
With courage in duty all patriots eyes observe
Valiantly answering the call to arms
Faced an evil world of harms
Paid a deadly price at their country's behest
Ripened thru war??™s unholy harvest.

Veterans can talk the talk,
For indeed they walked the walk.
Veteran??™s know freedom??™s not cheap
For in mortal combat, you sow what you reap
Whether with scythe, sickle, or M-16
Peace grows from freedom warriors from battlefields glean.

Veterans don??™t take no guff,
So don??™t go putting up that weak stuff.
The fate of the world rested in Veteran hands.
Their sweat preserved these star-spangled lands.
Veterans are the reason Americans walk free
Enjoying life through eyes seeing only liberty.

Veterans learned lessons of war in jungles greening-black
In deserts or icy cold refusing to slack
Fought back rushing adrenaline
Facing their personal Armageddon
Waiting under fire for a virulent foe's attack
Learned to watch a buddy's back.

Veterans humped a sweet and sour perfumed park,
Fending off specters of death, dawn into dark
Rivers of sweat washing their soul
Dancing to death??™s grim rock and roll
War made boys before their time grow old
Unless dying a hero in actions swift and bold.

Veterans dreamed of sweethearts to have and to hold
Suffered fevered chills from bones weary cold
Fighting wicked elements wills sapping
Unbearable Heat Suffocating
Monsoon rains spirits Drenching
Enduring rice paddy mud overpowering.

Old Veterans faced enemies preoccupied with their death
Still fear often that final breath
Still gaze on the world with blank stares
That cruel war on their soul still bears
Remembering the battle??™s fiery combustion
Bearing Sodom and Gomorrah like conflagration.

America's veterans have seen
Agent Orange's virulent scene
Brought creeping to their families obliteration,
Delayed traumatic stress??™s lingering destruction,
Horrendous nerve gas distillation,
Mankind??™s Nuclear Holocaust proliferation.

Salute now our veterans who great honor bore
Who with brave distinction peace restore
Who??™ve been there/done that, know the score
Who've gone above and beyond to perform that dirty chore
Offering their lives protecting generations from reality of war
A ritual sacrifice venerable veterans vehemently abhor.

Veterans of Foreign Wars
by Gary Jacobson ?© 2002
Veterans yet hear the distant rumble of echoes
Still feel memories shooting from furtive shadows
Still smell the choppers churning clouds of dust
Into the maws of hell by duty thrust
Still every night thru gunfire charging
Never forgetting
Selling his soul in fevered battle??™s pit
Rushing headlong to war thru it
Thru stifling fears of blood and mud cussed
And discussed...
Because he must!

Why, oh why
Does he tears of remembrance cry
For boys so valiantly brave
Sent forth an imperiled world to save
Offering their all for the heart of freedom
In copious shadows of war??™s maelstrom
By convictions forced to fight and almost die
His brothers interred in a black marble wall lie
Spirits at last in rest and peace sigh
Having fought the good fight for you and I
Battling despots craving for power's lust
Because he must!

Veterans advanced in a world of harm and danger
Forged ahead to meet the foe wielding hateful anger
Fetid smells of carnal death all around
Captured in every sound
No one can really know unless he was there
Unless he too for his country, arms did bear
Combating the life and death cliffhanger
Haunted yet by war??™s fleshly Doppelg?¤nger
Then, and now, to war no stranger
All life resting on his hair-trigger.

Veterans, once the hope of our nation
Answered in honored pride the call to action
Princes to the kingdom, sweet flowers of youth
Swept away to ride bestial ogres of war uncouth
Carried far and away by winds of war that blow
So our world in peaceful harmony might grow
Liberty??™s sword to peoples of the earth bestow
Through foul weather and napalm??™s breeze
Agent Orange defoliating life and trees
Through cruel war??™s grim legacy leaves...

The veteran gave us his most priceless gift
Though war did unexpectedly his whole life shift
Duty bestowed by greater love
Blessed by the mercy of
Courageous by virtue of
Resolute in dedication of
Determined in hope of
Brave by the strength of
Undaunted valor in spite of
Heroic honor on the order of
Bold in the light of
Lionhearted because of
Mother, country, humanity, freedom, God above
Our very way-of-life, all interwove.

~Honoring A Noble Warriors Life~
Who Made A Difference

http://namtour.com/noblewarriortaps.html

Play last taps over a noble warrior??™s sacred grave
Now gone before, the better way to pave
From the hall??™s of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli
Over hill, over dale, blazing the shadow of death??™s victory
Comforted are we,
This valiant spirit now found rebirth
For he tirelessly toiled in war??™s hells on earth

His destiny lies where the sound of guns are heard no more
Enter now that Holiest door to heaven??™s celestial shore
Reserved for those who gave all standing hickory tall
For family, hearth and home fighting the good fight
Resisting opponents of right with fists of valorous might
Who lived and died for liberty
That all mankind might breathe eternally free

Proud wave his bold legacy
Great courage in greater bravery
A heroes heritage in honored history
Hear this patriotic life story
A stouthearted tradition of faith and loyalty
Revered duty to truth his gallant birthright
With zeal sworn our nation's brightest light

Winds whispering of Divine peace in God??™s kingdom
Blow softly over hallowed grave of a leader of freedom
O??™er a man who more than self his country loved
Who madmen??™s wrongs in this wide world righted
Who peace on earth so diligently fought for
Who for a consecrated flag, arms he bore
Whenever duty called, always marching to the fore

We will never forget him...
Metered with Pure patriotism??™s dignity
Answerng that clarion call to sacred beings infinity
Head held proudly high with an eagles steely gaze
On ascent to heaven, herald angels triumphant glory raise
Singing of life??™s many deeds worthy of praise
For him stalwartly true to his beliefs abode all his days

A warrior??™s death, only a warrior to higher slopes moving his camp
Strategically to higher ground, free from mortality??™s dews and damp
Moving to a position more defendable to protect divinity??™s face
To a sacred place near the Master??™s grace
No more to suffer a warriors tired and weary bones
Immortal healing free from life??™s slings and arrows atones

Now he's free at last from earthly toil and pain
Heaven??™s richest blessings to this valiant warrior ordain
Who smiled in the face of fear with disdain
Opposing madmen to the suffering of others cavalier
Standing as a worthy barrier to make life for others easier
Family, friends and country in devotion protecting
Inalienable rights guarding

Celebrate now the life of father, brother, son exalted
All hail his life true to values precepts honored
Who powers of mortal evil with his good right arm abated
Pass now into arms of brothers again reunited
Into the arms of beloved family on the other shore waiting
For this soldier??™s very being embodied giving
Who left this world a better place for his living...

http://pzzzz.tripod.com/memorial.html

Remember all the boys who loyal valor wore
Just doing their duty in times of direful war
Who the mantel of heroes bore.
Remember boys who fought humanity??™s good fight
Who battled, stouthearted and bold, for right.
Worship at their alter of liberty
That the flower of youth in finest hour??™s nobility
Will live on in cherished memory...

Remember these holy vessels by our father's sanctified
Sent to war with pomp and ceremony glorified
Bearing terrible sword??™s of swiftest lightning
A valiant place in annals of history earning
For age shall not defeat them
Assailing enemies no longer have power to condemn
These grandest princes of freedom found
Those who honor bring to hallowed ground...

Remember boys standing straight and standing tall
Who in heed to battle??™s raucous call
Gave the greatest gift of life, their all...
Heroes journeying the dimming pit??™s of Hellish strife
Who fought for a country they loved more than life.
Trumpets now sound plaintive, sad refrains
Shedding tears in innocent eyes still feeling pains
Grown silent now a protester's blames.

As rivers of tears flow from a generation??™s eyes
A nation for her lost youth cries...
Remember loving boys who saw too much
Just sons, husbands, fathers, who??™ve done too much
Contending with bastions of hate in cankered mire
To the grandest precepts of manhood inspire
Just ordinary boys standing up against despots
Lionhearted men, Freedom??™s brave zealots.

With noble courage still, they silently cry
What from our sacrifice have you learned, they sigh?
For what meaning did we die
Preserving grand liberty for you and me?
Standing on the bank of heaven??™s river, can??™t you see
From sea to shining sea?
We??™ve given up the good times
Fallen forever mid discordant rhymes.

Will you this day in honor remember
Within your heart hold dear this glowing ember
Men revered of the highest caliber?
Remember warriors who fight for a gallant cause
Forevermore without question or pause
Who yield this land of milk and honey??™s berth
Ever defiant of evil to gain peace on earth
That God??™s precept of brotherhood find new birth!

Award us in this hour thy dauntless approbation.
Remember always our revered brotherly union.
Remember our souls in heroes air rarified.
Remember those who for divine precepts died
By ragged scars of death purified
Men no longer from the season of fear hidden
By the world??™s cares driven.
For those who??™ve fallen, no longer weep
For in their purest soul cares keep...

Grant this soldier??™s last prayer...never forget!
Now and forever keep fires of freedom lit
A pi??ce de r?©sistance by unflagging perseverance fit!
Remember, so our struggle might not have been in vain.
Sing our battle cry of freedom??™s impassioned strain.
Remember, that we may ever in spirit be with you.
Remember, to thoughts of loss and death eschew.
Remember, to love us now, as we love you...