I took a walk today among the rows of white.
Each standing tall, each standing proud
In the bright sunlight.
If only they could tell out loud,
The story of the life they represent.
Upon one stone I read a name
of someone who's call to fame
was in the revolutionary war.
The battle of Bunker Hill
June 16, 1775
What did he die for?
Freedom
On I walk till I feel compelled to stop
this time the stone on the hilltop
says 1 of 100 dead in the
the Battle of Raisin Bend
January 21, 1813
What did he die for?
Freedom
I stumbled and fell when this battle cry I heard
Remember the Alamo...echoed through my head
So many dead when the Alamo fell
On March 6, 1836,
What did he die for?
Freedom
As I walk on the stones seem to never end.
What would I find next just around this bend.
Stood strong against Mexico in
The Battle of Palo Alto
May 8, 1846
What did he die for?
Freedom
I walk on till I find two stones as one
standing together as if they were one.
Brothers: one in gray, one in blue
The Battle of Gettysburg
July 1, 1863
What did they die for?
Freedom
On I go, count the steps 101, 102, 103, 104
To catch my breath I stop once more
Rode with Roosevelt’s Rough Riders
The Battle of San Juan Hill
July, 1 1898
What did he die for?
Freedom
I climb a hill and look about
I see a stone that stands out
World War I
Battle of Saint-Mihiel
September 14, 1918
What did he die for?
Freedom
Next on my walk a stone I see,
that seems to be the size of three
1,177 permanently entombed in the Arizona,
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941
What did they die for?
Freedom
I can not stop I must go on,
Stones a blur until one stood out as a baton.
Helping to stop the Communists
Inchon, North Korea
September 16, 1950
What did he die for?
Freedom
I tripped and fell to the ground
and look at the stone that I found
America abandoned us for it was in
Vietnam we fought and died
1961 to 1970
What did they die for?
Freedom
The next stone to catch my eye.
Stood like a beacon to the sky.
Iraqi Scud destroys U.S. barracks in Dhahran,
Operation Desert Storm
Feb. 25, 1991
What did they die for?
Freedom
The next stone was stained with tears.
Seemed to show all America’s fears.
hunting out the Taliban and al-Qaeda after 9/11
Operation Enduring Freedom , Afghanistan
March 6, 2002
What did he die for?
Freedom
The next stone I read had the caption,
Army reserve called to action.
Killed by small arms fire
Ar Ramadi, Iraq
Sept. 22, 2005
What did he die for?
Freedom
I walk on for what seemed years.
To look at this stone I feared.
How much more could I take.
Would it tell me of your fate.
I looked and saw no name.
What are you fighting for?
Freedom
Then I woke, it had been a dream.
With tear stained eyes, I arose.
I knelt down, said a prayer.
Please Lord in this land so far away,
Keep him safe today.
.
Watch your step, be careful there.
We are waiting here at home.
Our prayers go up for all the troops,
and their families too.
And to you this I say…..
Thank you for fighting for,
Freedom !
Author notes
Picture prompt #3
A contest entry
- MILITARY----PIC AND VIDEO LINKS PIC & VID INSPIRED SOME PRE-WRITES! by Tasha-Linette.
600 points, ended October 16, 2007, 8 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Take Me Back to the 20th Century Wars by Nicolette Everett.
700 points, ended December 8, 2007, 12 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - No one cares about the heroes by Carefuldelusion.
900 points, ended May 20, 27 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Military Poems by Pollycheck.
450 points, ended April 21, 104 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Heroes ~ Memorial Day Contest by Florida Sunshine.
300 points, ended May 27, 16 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 34 of 34
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Touching
This was a wonderful tribute to so many
who have died over the centuries.
We who are free take it for granted.
So many have dedicated themselve for
this cause. I'm glad that you took time
out to remember our brothers and sisters
who gave all for our liberty.
. Rewarded 6
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Extreamly deep and oh so accurate.
You have covered almost all of the wars so adequately. Freedom yes that is what our men and women fight for. It is too bad that the powers that be, cannot be sent over to the war zones and participate in these wars themselves. If they had to place thier lives on the lines, maybe they would think twice before sending thier young men and women out to the battle fields. Not just those from our country but all the countries of the world. May god bless you for writng this in rememberence of all those who have served. I Thank you in behalf of those men of my family who have been there in wars from the Second World War to Viet-Nam. Excelent poem and you well deserved the awards you recieved.
. Rewarded 8
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Well done, i relaly feel the atmopshere here. I really enjoyed reading this. Ive pasted the poem down here so u can embrace and read what amazing things uve created!
I took a walk today among the rows of white.
Each standing tall, each standing proud
In the bright sunlight.
If only they could tell out loud,
The story of the life they represent.
Upon one stone I read a name
of someone who's call to fame
was in the revolutionary war.
The battle of Bunker Hill
June 16, 1775
What did he die for?
Freedom
On I walk till I feel compelled to stop
this time the stone on the hilltop
says 1 of 100 dead in the
the Battle of Raisin Bend
January 21, 1813
What did he die for?
Freedom
I stumbled and fell when this battle cry I heard
Remember the Alamo...echoed through my head
So many dead when the Alamo fell
On March 6, 1836,
What did he die for?
Freedom
As I walk on the stones seem to never end.
What would I find next just around this bend.
Stood strong against Mexico in
The Battle of Palo Alto
May 8, 1846
What did he die for?
Freedom
I walk on till I find two stones as one
standing together as if they were one.
Brothers: one in gray, one in blue
The Battle of Gettysburg
July 1, 1863
What did they die for?
Freedom
On I go, count the steps 101, 102, 103, 104
To catch my breath I stop once more
Rode with Roosevelt’s Rough Riders
The Battle of San Juan Hill
July, 1 1898
What did he die for?
Freedom
I climb a hill and look about
I see a stone that stands out
World War I
Battle of Saint-Mihiel
September 14, 1918
What did he die for?
Freedom
Next on my walk a stone I see,
that seems to be the size of three
1,177 permanently entombed in the Arizona,
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941
What did they die for?
Freedom
I can not stop I must go on,
Stones a blur until one stood out as a baton.
Helping to stop the Communists
Inchon, North Korea
September 16, 1950
What did he die for?
Freedom
I tripped and fell to the ground
and look at the stone that I found
America abandoned us for it was in
Vietnam we fought and died
1961 to 1970
What did they die for?
Freedom
The next stone to catch my eye.
Stood like a beacon to the sky.
Iraqi Scud destroys U.S. barracks in Dhahran,
Operation Desert Storm
Feb. 25, 1991
What did they die for?
Freedom
The next stone was stained with tears.
Seemed to show all America’s fears.
hunting out the Taliban and al-Qaeda after 9/11
Operation Enduring Freedom , Afghanistan
March 6, 2002
What did he die for?
Freedom
The next stone I read had the caption,
Army reserve called to action.
Killed by small arms fire
Ar Ramadi, Iraq
Sept. 22, 2005
What did he die for?
Freedom
I walk on for what seemed years.
To look at this stone I feared.
How much more could I take.
Would it tell me of your fate.
I looked and saw no name.
What are you fighting for?
Freedom
Then I woke, it had been a dream.
With tear stained eyes, I arose.
I knelt down, said a prayer.
Please Lord in this land so far away,
Keep him safe today.
.
Watch your step, be careful there.
We are waiting here at home.
Our prayers go up for all the troops,
and their families too.
And to you this I say…..
Thank you for fighting for,
Freedom ! -
very powerful. it made me cry and realize why we celibrate july 4th.
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riveting
yes!! they all died for freedom in one fashion or another . well written
)
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awesome poem, i really liked it!
i personally have a brother fighting in afganistan, so the poem really came close to home.
keep writing! -
"Killed by small arms fire
Ar Ramadi, Iraq
Sept. 22, 2005
What did he die for?
OIL"* you may were right about what u said but USA is now fighting for oil not freedom. -
Excellent and so true indeed
For our country we would all bare arms to see it ys free and let no man woman or other country ever try to take it away from us we may fight and squable between us but we would join as one in a heartbeat to see it stay free forever and a day
. Rewarded 4
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The picture alone, reaches right out and grabs your heart. Hero, after hero lined up one after the other,
makes one wonder will there ever be an end.
This is some exceptional writing, I thank you for writing this and I am sure many others do also. Especially all those remarkable HERO !!!
Many fight and put their lives on the line everyday for our freedom.
Loveandblessings2u & yours always
Joyce
. Rewarded 8
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Superb
A most exceellent write, indeed. If you are not already familiar with them, you might like to review these two web sites: Emerson's "The Concord Hymn"
and Charters of Freedom.
"The Concord Hymn" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
http://www.emersoncentral.com/poems/concordhymn.htm
To read the Declaration of Independence, The United States Constitution, and our Bill of Rights, this is one of the best sites:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/
. Rewarded 4
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This I SOOOOOOOOOOO
deserving of both cups siver and gold winners..COngrats!!! You did an awesome job on this with the vivid imagery from your carefully and well chosen words. You bring to mind of all who read this the real cost of freedom and so fitting on this day above all others to show your recognition of the sacrifice made for the advancement of freedom.!!!Well done fellow poetess!!!~~Toni~~
. Rewarded 8
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Beautiful
Thank you for sharing this poem with all on AP. It reminds us of our rich heritage...katie Lazette
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well done
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this brought tears to my eyes as I felt this way so often...I have been proud of the service men and women in my family and they too fight for freedom...weeping now...beautiful...loved the photo and your words...congrats on the well deserved gold!
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awesome
The never ending stream of young men and women sent to die on foreign shores for freedom. So many battles, so many names. Many long forgotten and the wars they were sent to fight for just keep raging on one after another. Great write Rhonda, Mark
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when I say the picture it just spoke to me. and then your love for military history partly inspired this to go the route it did, as did our love for the military men and women.
Thank you for reading.
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This is incredible! Very, very good poem! It is deeply moving. I don't have any relatives who died as veterans, but even for me, this is powerful.
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thank you.
You can still honor those who died. There are veterans graves that never have anyone come visit them, that maybe never get flowers or a flag put on them if the aren't in a military cemetery. or even just say a simple thank you in your heart.
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WOW!
Congrats on the gold trophy! This piece definitely deserves that recognition. Thank you for sharing. It's a beautiful work and shares what Memorial Day truly means.
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Thank you.
It is those who have gave their lives in service to America that deserve recognition, and it was my desire to honor them.
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Very Worthy!!!!
this is such an awesome poem and it deserved a gold. I have never thought about writing a poem like this but you did it better than I ever could but that one word has such a big meaning and caused a lot of deaths. Freedom... It is what our men and women are fighting for and I think you summed it up. I like the style you penned it in. beautiful job, just blew me away. Congratulations on the Gold.
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Freedom
yes a very powerful word, and one that Americans are willing to fight for. thank you for you lovely comments. When I first wrote it it was for a pic prompt contest she had lots of choices but the pic above is the one that spoke to me. Some of the battles I knew but I had to do research to make sure I didn't miss any.
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The last one in the contest ~ I'm glad you made it...
First: How very true.... I've been to a place in Tennessee where my grandfathers grave stands for the navalmen. "As I walk on the stones seem to never end."
By the time I reached the end of your piece I was bawling my eyes out... touching through and through... I could be overly sensitive right now... I've been struggling with the sudden loss of a friend.
Thank youu so much for entering and giving your salute to the Memorial Day Heroes.... Shall we never forget! -
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I am so honored thank you for the gold.
This is one of my favorite poems because of the story it tells and those I hope it honors. The military is very dear to my heart. I did three years in the Air Force and loved it, the I was married to a Air Force man for another 18 years till he retired. I live in what is called military town USA (San Antonio, Texas) and we have had the chance to take cookies and cards the kids at church made to share with our soldiers who are here mending.
Thank you once again for allowing me to honor those who have died through out our history for our Freedom.
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Thank you for entering my military contest. It is amazing that you could teach a history lesson just by walking down the rows of headstones.
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Just haunting and spoke to our
poetic freedom's. Thankyou for giving a voice to those
who so bravely paid the ultimate price for what we
so lavishly enjoy ......."freedom"
Just a wonderfully written poem!
ears2hearyou
Kathleen : ))
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I like how you wrote this piece, very different and expresses. You can feel the emotion that your trying to convey through all those who have died for us and for what their country stands for.
Nice job! -
very nice
God Bless our boys, I'm so proud of mine, God keep him safe.. you did good girl
Hugs
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This has touched me deeply! Many have been laid to rest in the pursuit of our freedom.... you have done them a great justice with this fabulous write!
Blessings and best wishes,
Frogz~
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Wow
hi,
Freedom is very good.
im glad someone in this world is admiring our soliders instead of worring about lindsey lohan is drunk again.sorry im so blunt but i think your a great writer so keep writing please.
Ace
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This has me in soo many tears... This is soowonderful! Great job!
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This has me in tears even as I am reading this now, Thank you for honoring so many in which have been forgotten great job on this , good luck in this contest
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This is so good, and I can tell you did your research, I hope I never have to be in the position that so many have before me. This is so good...I can't say it enough. Thank you!!! Thank you!! Thank you! Good luck in the contest!
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Thank you for your comment
This prompt just spoke to me and touched my heart. thank you for putting it on there.
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