In a small town cemetery
in Glidden, Merle Hay
lies beneath a granite stone ...
memorialized this way.
Among our Nation's stalwart sons,
he gave his life in war,
defending home and country.
His hometown paper did implore
their young men in life's full bloom
to enlist and go to fight
to stop the German juggernaut
with freedom's will and might.
The first of Iowa's brave sons
to fall by war's mischance,
he heads a roll of those who died
on the fallow fields of France.
In Des Moines, they named a road
in memory of his brave deed ...
and our soldiers stayed till Europe
from tyranny was freed.
His body lay in foreign soil
till exhumed in 1921.
Now his bones repose in peace
far from bomb and gun.
But if you take Highway 30
to Glidden, you will see
a marker, for a proud young man
who died for home and liberty.
Author notes
The first American casualty in the first world war was from Glidden, IA, named Merle Hay. There is a street and a mall in Des Moines named after him.
Please tell me what you think, unless you are a total idiot. If so, keep it to yourself.
Comments
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Excellent and so loved indeed
This truly brings tears to my eyes for the brave men who walks in hell for us here at home there are none better indeed
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this is so sad, but as we all know wars are never easy, but to loose lives in any time is devastating to families and friends, thank you for this entry, good luck...Lin
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