Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Cause of the Fallen

A few thoughts:
I went for a long overdue walk the other day through St. Mary's cemetery in Ottoville, Ohio and I remembered something I learned some years ago about placing coins upon the grave markers of veterans (you may have seen the article posted yesterday). Well, the idea kept gnawing at me at work, and so I sat down, and composed a little something that goes along with the article about using those coins to support veteran causes. Here's my take on the idea. On Memorial Day, or any day for that matter, plan to take a walk with family, or friends through your local cemetery, and place a small token upon the grave markers of veterans. It not only gets the kids outside, and us adults, but it shows our support in a way that
touches our hearts, and minds to the sacrifices, and needs of our veterans. Hopefully, local service organizations can organize times to collect the coins, and donate the proceeds to veteran causes.
And so, my friends, a gift.

Cause of the Fallen

Consider a penny
Fallen from a pocket
Lost
Round and weathered
Copper colored
Bronzed with age
Over time forgotten
Then found
Upon the ground
Like some prodigal son
Singular, and insignificant
Yet gathered as a multitude
A treasure to behold.

Then consider a brother
A sister
Fallen from this life
Begotten son and daughter
But never forgotten
In monuments of stone
And the living
Who like some relic of war
Become unknown
Returned home
Unscathed, yet scarred
Visible and hidden
Reminded daily of the battle
Healed, and broken
Price paid in full for freedom
Yet become a nation's burden
Debt, unlike a penny spent.

So now we realize them
In repose, and living
Veteran and citizen
Soldier and sibling
To place our treasure
In gardens of stone
We march and remember
On streets with flags flown
Cause of the fallen
For the needs of the living
For honor, courage,
And service rendered.

D.A. Wittler 17'

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