Wind beats at the flag above the memorial
nothing still about the death of these lads
they stood impossible ground
defying the odds as they fought
as the storm raged they trudged
I lift my eyes unable to stifle a tear
names of men that I will never know
who died that I might enjoy freedom
Today we celebrate those who died not just in service to our country but because they believed in the cause of freedom. I salute their bravery in thanks.
I went to Main Street today
some of the old buildings
from the past century were gone
newly painted signs marked the street
boys and girls jubilant cries
mothers and fathers
sang the same favorite song
as the veterans marched by
*
I went to Union Square today
they always did know about celebration
stars and stripes buntings fluttered
men hawked “freedoms” wares
traffic on Market Street was blocked
the air filled with anticipation
as we heard the drums coming toward us
horses carried their warriors proudly
*
I went to the “L” & “N” street of our Golden State today
the light posts bore bear and star stripped flags
the spacious Capitol’s lawns
were covered with colorful chairs
some had chosen a prize spot the night before
we would honor those who had served
arm and arm as comrades
our hails and shouts they deserve
*
I went to Pennsylvania Ave D.C. today
imagining heroes in full uniform array
proud of the country they had served
and what I saw brought a tear to my eye
a flyer promoting something in another language
hurried past from some weekend event
red white and blue errant candy wrappers blew
only ghosts of veterans showed up for parades of yesterday
****
It is a sad commentary when your nation’s leaders look the other way for an event / holiday that celebrates the men and women who have served and protected them. I planned for the first time to attend the big event in my Nation’s Capitol, but there will be no parade today in our nation’s capitol. Veterans like myself will obviously gather around monuments for a moment of silence. I will hum the “Star Spangled Banner” and perhaps “America” with camoflaged shadows too little recognized as heroes.
I salute you who have served : Army, Air Force, Marines, Coasties and a special thanks to the men and women of the Navy who have kept our seas and skies safer…
Each of you deserve a salute, smile and attaboy!
First day on the job
put away the dog eared manuals
unbutton the cowling
I muse:
she’s bigger in real life than the pictures
“no, I don’t need a rag
I’m not afraid of a little grease”
my hands caress her
cutting myself on a sharp edge
first blood spilt
I smile as my blood merges with oil
reminds me when friends became pinky pals
each day was an adventure
each flight paradise
the day I got to run up all four Pratt and Whitneys*
there was no need to fly
I was airborne in ecstasy
I wonder what Columbus’ first day at the helm was like?
**
In many ways as an airplane mechanic in the United States Navy, I felt like I was on uncharted waters. I was one of two women in a P-3 squadron of 100 men. I never minded getting sooty or greasy, but I know it took years for the airmen to believe I was worth anything but something to look at. I enjoyed being a grease monkey when women were still doing “girl jobs.”
The prompt for Poet’s United Midweek Motif is Exploring.
Photography:
Engine- photography moondust designs
Propeller – wikipedia
P-3 in Flight Cybermodler
Your footsteps
trudging in the sand
made all the difference
your sacrifice
saved many a life
gave us freedom
we fly a flag
we sing your praise
cannons boom
never will they repay
nor can my heart say
ample thanks
salute your bravery
for in one moment
your sacrificial deed
made all the difference
****
I salute brothers and sisters who served in the Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force.
Those who serve do so with a love for their country no matter the cost.
We did it for freedom for LIFE!
a yellowed, antique lace veil
shivers in the breeze
once worn by her babushka
she fingers the edges lovingly
grateful her once blue eyes
now opaque having seen too much
*
ancient green fields waved
once welcoming mariners
adventurers from distant lands
now scarred and impotent
battleships crouch as lions
poised, ready for action
*
limp and lifeless flag
tattered blue and yellow
an emblem of a scourged, reclaimed land
freed from cold, iron curtains
no breeze left to breathe into life
red machinations alone stir the air
Ukrainian Flag is an image I found on Andrey Bondarchuks’s facebook page. by Kaska Szapska.
Do you remember?
Crisp uniform
tailored to you
swearing to serve your country
“I solemnly swear”
and you meant it!
Defend
Do you remember
When the seiousness of your vow
made sense?
soldier, sailor, marine, airman
“I will serve my country…”
A clean innocent smile, once
I remember
The pride I felt
saluting my commanding officer
they toggled the switches on engine 1
they cranked up engine 2
number 3 blew our hats across the tarmack
the ship sweetly rumbled as number 4 came to life
Yes, every day could be my last
that is the risk we take
“… to serve my country”
Why?
I am a Veteran
and I believe
that the bell for freedom deserves to ring
that the next generation deserves safe borders
I salute each of you
Veterans – young and old
each of you placed yourself in harm’s way
to protect another
I am honored to have served
with you!
It is the
VETERAN,
not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.
It is
the VETERAN,
not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is
the VETERAN,
not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is
the VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is
the VETERAN,
not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is
the VETERAN,
not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the
VETERAN who
salutes the Flag,
It is
the
VETERAN
who serves
under the Flag.
(written by un-known)
Do you know someone who has served or is serving so that you can be safe? Thank those people who proudly serve.
A special thanks to brothers and sisters serving in the United States Navy – Anchors Away!!!
The flight crew had been ordered to return to base as quickly as possible. There was a typhoon that they might avoid if they hurried. The co-pilot chuckled “hurry is one thing this baby doesn’t have in her vocabulary.” The pilot looked at the two starboard turbo prop engines and smiled. “She’ll get us home like she always does. This mama has a heart that I sometimes can feel beating.”
The captain called back over the intercom to the crew. “If you were expecting a smooth ride, belay that, we are in for a roller coaster ride.”
I smiled. I loved roller coasters; I’d been flying in storms all my life in my Dad’s Cessna 150.
One of the guys gave me a bag. “In case you lose your lunch.”
“Thanks sailor.”
I really was enjoying the flight crew and had put in a request to get off the ground and get in the air. The flight engineer (FE) had recommended me to the commander as an asset to the squadron. He had written in his report “her mechanical skills would be an asset to any P-3 crew.” If the request went through, I would be the first female P-3 flight engineer.
We were starting to feel the effects of the storm. You couldn’t see a thing outside; it was as black as night but this was an eerie darkness. At one point, the tail of the aircraft was picked up and it felt like we would do a somersault. Then the tail gently laid down. The sailor, who had handed out the bags, was puking his guts out as were most of the crew. I heard the captain and hoped the co-pilot could hold his together long enough for the captain to finish losing it.
I’d said my prayers before the flight so I wasn’t too worried about the outcome of our flight. There were several hands clasped tightly thinking this was it.
For a long moment, all was still. We thought we were through the worst. A wind grabbed a hold of our craft and spun her. It sounded like the four engines were being yanked off the wings. With all the creaking and snapping , we should have been torn to bits.
Then – silence! No noise. Our interior lights were off and we were looking at each other. I unstrapped myself figuring “what more could happen?” I looked outside the port window. The sea was golden and jewel- like. I held my breath – “this is heaven – how beautiful.” I wanted to open the door and climb on the wing and dance. The others were looking outside as well. Then I saw that the inboard #3 propeller was still turning.
I heard the flight engineer say, “turn up #2 engine – now!”
“What has happened?” One of the crew exclaimed.
“I guess we survived.” The cap said in an audible whisper.
“Are we in Oz?” another chuckled.
The pilot called back and said “we are flying about 100 feet over the Pacific guys.” Then we the welcome audience of nature. A pod of dolphins jumped from the water in dance with the sunshine. A whale spouted off to our starboard side, then another. A fleet of flying fish darted and jumped about the cresting waves. The golden rays filling the sky were magnificent.
Someone asked,” anyone getting shots of this?”
I grabbed the Olympus I had purchased in Japan and shot the dolphins, the inboard motor turning and a picture of the crew. Each face reflected something different- but on each was a sense of contentment, relief, and gratitude for life.
I knew the camera could never capture the glimpse into paradise that day – a place of perfect peace where everything was right with the world. I did know we would carry that sense of glory in our hearts.
As we planted our feet on the tarmac at Agana, International, I handed the neatly folded barf bag back to my new friend.
“Maybe next time,” I smiled.
“Welcome to the crew – sailor,” he saluted.
Though this story is fictionalized- this event happened to our P-3 crew as we tried to skirt a typhoon in the South Pacific. Men and women, in the armed forces,face not only the enemy, each day of their enlistment, but they face the forces of nature. Our crew safely made it through.
To honor those who serve or have served.Please accept these poems and stories as a small gift of thanks!!!!
We wish to offer thanks
tho words can never say it all
you have given your time made a sacrifice
for our families down to ones so small
shout from mountain tops splash in the sea
would never convey the gratitude
we’d like to give for being free
Tribute: By Doubtful Poet
A Soldier’s Tale By Pete Marshall
Tribute to You Who Serve – Thank You By Alexi Romantic
A Glimpse to the other side – By Moondustwriter
Memorial Pool
One red carnation
Adrift in a pool
Recalls the loved one
Plucked in their youth
Sent to a far-flung land
Lost in the name of liberty.
by Pamela Ferris-Olson
(in response to the WWII memorial on The Mall, DC)
Pam’s Blog Site: http://InTheHeartland3Women
Saturday Story Hour – In honor of those serving in our Armed Forces, and those at home -Police and Firefighters.
**********************************************************************************************************
**********************************************************************************************************
If you are a story-teller and would like to take part, I would love to have you join on the 1st and third Saturdays of the month. The 1st Saturday will be (open-ended) poems and stories for children; the 3rd Saturday will be thematic (theme posted the 1st Saturday.)
The first Saturday Story “Hour” will be a story (fiction or non-fiction) of any length given in tribute to those who serve and protect us (armed forces, police, firefighters. )
1.Join when you can and put a link (direct to your page) in the comment’s section.
2. Try to post Blog by Friday night (before the 1st or 3rd saturday.)
3. Please works must be original
This is a work in progress any input you can offer is appreciated.
Happy story telling.
Thanks to Ian Plump for the photos
That certain song
song from the past
takes me back
to a feeling
when life was fast
***
Back to
those wild days
my memories revert
those boys
their so crazy ways
***
He was in the Navy
magical eyes of blue
Weir wolves of London
the song we knew
***
There was the athlete
sports car good looks
“Round About” by Yes
blared
while we cooked
***
Then there was
“too hot”
what more could I say
“Sultans of Swing” – the Mustang
carried me away
***
Finally the man
who stole my heart
loved jazz
to him it was art
***
George Winston
the master
seasons said it all
one was my favorite
we married in the Fall
Photo: Stevecardman
License- Creative Commons
Sayling Away
Learning to live by the indwelling life of Christ.
Gud skaper noko nytt ved sitt Ord og sin Ande, vi kan ta imot det i tru og få oppleve at han gjer sitt verk med oss. Hans skaparkraft verkar konstuktivt i våre liv og skaper noko som er verdifullt for oss. Naturkreftene verkar nedebrytande, i fylgje entropilova, men Gud er Ånd og det som er født av hans Ande består. Jesu frelsesverk er fullbrakt og fullkome. Han er den siste Adam, som er ifrå himmelen og som for oss har vorte ei livgjevande ånd. Han gjev oss den Heilage Ande frå himmelen av berre nåde. Han gjev oss det evige livet.
Looking ahead, without looking back (too often)
Thanks for following a cowgirl on her crazy life journey.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before. - Edgar Allan Poe
Hoping to make the world more beautiful
Books by author Diana Coombes
With previous posting of "Our World" on Blogger
my humanity in written form
Experiments in Creative Writing, and more ....
Poetry by Mich
FOR READERS AND ASPIRING WRITERS
Everyday musings ....Life as I see it.......my space, my reflections and thoughts !!
From Board Books to Clean YA
Cherishing the Past while Celebrating the Present
FROM ONE PARENT TO ANOTHER
penned in moon dust 