Archive for the ‘Veteran’s Day’ Tag
The helmet, gun and boots of a fallen soldier from the U.S/ Vietnam War, 1955-1975. Behind is the traveling Vietnam war memorial wall with the names of 56,000 + fallen U.S. soldiers who fought and died in this war. The original larger wall is located in Washington D.C. The traveling wall here is smaller and shown around the U.S. on Veterans day and Memorial day holidays. We have seen both the original wall in Washington D.C., and traveling wall seen here in northern Colorado. Photo credit: Joyce Johnson.
I see news clips and stories
of protests and crowds
marching in streets, their hearts
full of hatred, anger and strife.
And I think, What kind of country
have we become, that they cannot be thankful
for having such freedom and having such a life?
Are we not a great country who fought to secure
our rights and our freedoms
so they could endure?
What we all hold dear and strive to protect
so they could burn or trample on our flags?
Our symbol of strength, what men fought for, and died.
God, help this nation to honor and reflect
what is good, and what is right,
to put aside their differences
and rise above hate
that can only destroy, not ever unite.
___________________
Joyce E. Johnson (2016)
To all those veterans out there, today, I want to say
thank you so much for your service, what you gave up to serve,
so we can enjoy our freedoms and rights.
God, bless our America and our veterans, today.
Happy Veterans Day!
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Three Vietnam War veterans we met a few years ago at a Vietnam war memorial service in Fort Collins, Co.
The traveling Vietnam War memorial wall with over 53,000 names listed of all the soldiers who died in that war between 1965-1975
Sometimes we forget,
take for granted what you did;
your service and time
while defending our freedoms
to keep us safe and secure.
~~~~
Thank you to all our veterans
Have a blessed Veterans Day
_______________
Joyce E. Johnson © 2015
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They left family and friends to fight a war.
It wasn’t for personal gain or glory
they crossed the seas to distant shore
We honor them, their names and story.
They served their country and they served it well.
They’ll be remembered this Veterans Day,
And we’ll bow our heads,
and in reverence pray,
“Let us remember those who died for us,
May God have mercy, and there not be more
young men and women called off to war,”
While holding the memorial program read,
wiping tears for the fallen dead
another flag is lowered and spread
across a casket and the trumpet heard,
“Let us not forget those who toll freedom’s bell
Paying the price, sacrificing all,
for those not among us, and for those who fell.”
_________________
The above photos are ones I took at a memorial service for Vietnam veterans and all those (68,000 + ) killed in the war. The ‘traveling wall’ behind the boots, M-16 rifle and helmet of a soldier killed is a smaller version of the real wall memorial to those who fought and died in this war, located in Washington D.C. We saw that memorial and many others while visiting Washington D.C. that were just as moving. The photo of the helicopter is a Huey fighter/gunner type used during the Vietnam war, 1966-1975.
Every year in our town around 4:00 a.m. a group of war veterans from the Veterans Association drive slowly, reverently around town in a truck ringing a large bell in honor of all who died in past wars. The clanging bell usually wakes me up as I hear it passing. It has come to be an expectant sound and annual event on every Veterans Day.
Happy Veterans Day and God bless to all our troops and armed service men and women in uniform. We will not forget the sacrifice made by all for our freedom.
_________________
Joyce E. Johnson (2014)
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Reflections 