The Wall
November 5, 2009 9:57pm
; The Wall There's a wall in our Nation's capital Made of a special black stone Some fifty eight thousand names are there There are two I personally know The first name, Laverne Hissong We grew up a few miles apart We sang a song in a Christmas play "We three kings" is how it starts The second name, Ronnie Ireland Was quite a bit younger than I I've known his family all my life Why, I ask, did they die Each name inscribed was a precious life With a future of goals and dreams They gave the ultimate sacrifice Their lives so short, it seems For centuries our people have fought and died From sea to shining sea Our soldiers put their lives on the line For their country, for you, and for me My grandfather fought in the Civil War My brother in World War Two My nephew a Marine in Vietnam They were proud of the red, white, and blue Our Nations set aside a special day For our hearts and minds to recall A Memorial Day, in the month of May For those who gave their all I wrote this poem for Laverne and Ron Just a writer at the end of a pen But, I'll never forget the price they paid I'm glad to have known them as friends. Note: Every time Veteran's Day and Memorial Day come around, I think of these two childhood friends of mine who died in Vietnam. Laverne's brothers live in my home town and Ron's brother attends my church that I Pastor. I guess my friend dying Monday, who was a Veteran in World War 2 prompted me to place this poem here today. I preached his funeral today. He was 95 years old and he signed up for service the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed on Dec. 7th, 1941. What an honor to have known all three of these men as friends. Pee Wee …
