I'm so sorry to hear the news.
NOT ALONE AT THE WALL
By Sharon Palmer
1-6-2002
The old Vet walked up slowly,
Not sure if he could bear,
To see the names of his old friends,
Etched oh, so clearly there.
Unsteady on his feet, he was,
And so he thought it best,
If he just took a moment,
To sit awhile and rest.
The echoes of those days long gone,
When they were all so young,
Blended with the present,
And somehow became one.
He heard a voice he'd known quite well!
From Boot Camp to Da Nang.
Well Bless my soul, it's Bobbie, Lord!
He died in so much pain!
Oh ! Awful Ashau Valley,
Where they fought too hard, too long,
One single wayward bullet,
And Bobby Jones was gone.
I've surely lost my mind!, he thought,
As Bobby took his hand,
Lifting him back to his feet,
Though he could barely stand.
Said Bobby, Hey, you finally came!
To see me at The Wall,
I know how hard this is for you.
I've seen the teardrops fall.
But listen close, You need to know
That you are not alone,
For there are many standing by,
To guide a Soldier home.
At first, it's true, I was afraid,
Not understanding why.
I wasn't ready, noone is,
But soldiers often die.
That's what they told me as we walked,
Towards a Golden Light.
Assuring me, that never more,
Would I be asked to fight.
What joy it was to see the boys!
Hey! You remember Jim?
And good ole George who always shared,
The goodies sent to him?
They're all right here! Why even,
My oldest Brother Joe!
He bought it on that bloody Hill,
875, Dak To.
Joe says to me, "Now brother"
We got lots of work to do!
Watchin' over these old Vets,
The new, young soldiers too."
He said " You see the men who live",
"The Lucky Ones" they're told,
Will have some special troubles,
Even as they're growing old."
"We've got to send them hope because,
At times when they are weak,
Their memories will come to life,
And haunt them while they sleep."
So like Joe said, I went to work
And stayed here at my post,
I know I probly scared you,
Ha! You never seen a ghost?!
They come here by the thousands to,
This place known as "The Wall",
And I just knew some day for sure,
You'd come and see us all.
Oh Man! I tell you I have got,
Some friends to share with you!
We, who never came back home,
From 'Nam are just a few!
Right here with me are men who died,
For naught at Belleau Wood.
In that Great War "to end all wars".
As if there's one that could.
For you, along beside me
Are boys who made a stand,
Normandy, Corrigador,
The Battle of Bataan.
These fellas from the Second war,
Want me to wish you well.
And tell you there's a heaven.
For those who've been to hell.
Here also are the men who say,
They sure know all about,
The wars some call "A Conflict"
The wars that leave a Doubt.
They fell for good and always on,
Korea's northern plain.
No real war? Mere "Conflict"?
Death found them just the same.
You see? There are so many here,
Who know what broke your heart.
They've been with you since you came home,
To help the healing start.
For all, a Band of Brothers,
For each another man,
Whose shared your sadness, pain and fear,
In Wars on Foreign land.
So walk away from this Dark Wall,
And know it to the bone,
That as you walk, where 'ere you walk,
You've never been alone.