The Wall

                                 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