Thought for today
The soldiers gift
I speak to you from the dust
I am the man who went to war
The man that gave his all
The man you never saw
I left my home just a boy
A true mans duty, etched in my heart
No excuses to avoid, what was expected
What we did, set us apart
There came a time to make a choice
So many of us picked up that gun
We marched off happy and singing
We marched to the beat of well worn drum
The weeks, the months, the years
Aged us, with each battle we fought
Family letters, gave us respite
It was their freedom, for which we fought
The price for freedom is paid in blood
Paid, with the farewell of peaceful dreams
The nightmare and the stink of death
Cradling you, in deep pit like seams
You can't dig it all out
You can't wash it all away
That's when you hope, there is a God
That's when, you learn pray
Limbs displayed like Christmas decorations
Screams that pierce the night
No longer a boy, am I
And oh, so tired of the fight
We gave up our friends
New friendships we banned
We gave our everything
In a forlorn, foreign land
I never felt like a hero
when they pinned that medal to my chest
I was just another survivor
Death, took away the best
Now I have gone to meet my maker
To look for comrades lost
There seems to be centuries of soldiers
That is war and that is the cost
So I speak to you from the dust
From beyond the great deathly rift
Were you worthy of our sacrifice
If so, what have you done with our gift
By Mike Conway
Comments
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Very poignant. We visit my hubby's uncle who is buried near Armetieres in France. His 100th anniversary of his death was last year on 22 April. Luckily, my grandad made it home, with a bullet hole in his neck. My dad made it home from serving in the
Far East in the Royal Navy in the 2nd World War. My hubby made it from serving in the 14/20 Kings Hussars (tanks), who were deployed to the border in the 1960s when Russia moved in to take over Czechslovakia, just in case the Russians didn't stop there.
Apparently, if they had kept coming, our tanks had about 8 minutes before being killed. Although, on a good note here, his regiment used the Centurion tank which was tested in a nuclear blast and it still work0 -
Like others I am thankful to all our service men and women.
My Grandad returned from the WWI alive but with terrible memories and a stutter that lasted allhis life.
Dad was in the Royal Navy in WWII, only in the last year but again lasting memories.
Husband served for 45 years in the Army. Several tours of Northern Ireland. Tombar (14/20th Hussars aswell in Hohne)
Eldest Son is still serving, tours of Bosnia, Irag, Afganistan I'm proud and grateful to them all for all the sacrifices they have made so that we can all enjoy life in a free country.
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My contribution:-
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who dieWe shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields
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I'm grateful that my grandad, dad, brother, two nephews and our son all came back home safely.
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Very poignant. We visit my hubby's uncle who is buried near Armetieres in France. His 100th anniversary of his death was last year on 22 April. Luckily, my grandad made it home, with a bullet hole in his neck. My dad made it home from serving in the
Far East in the Royal Navy in the 2nd World War. My hubby made it from serving in the 14/20 Kings Hussars (tanks), who were deployed to the border in the 1960s when Russia moved in to take over Czechslovakia, just in case the Russians didn't stop there.
Apparently, if they had kept coming, our tanks had about 8 minutes before being killed. Although, on a good note here, his regiment used the Centurion tank which was tested in a nuclear blast and it still workWrite your comments here...My grandfather was killed in action at the battle of Armentieres and is buried in Rue David military cemetery.We often visit and my 1 regret is that I never took my Father to see it before he died.
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Spookiest experience I had was at the Thiepval memorial. Saw my name on one of the panels. The unfortunate chap died on my birthday.
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