Our Nation’s Best

They stand on guard once more
in harm’s way in hostile lands
answering the nation’s call
on point in the places of death
of conflict, of war,
of sectarian factions
longing to loose the whirlwinds.

Where we would choose never to be
standing in the crosshairs
walking near the mines, the chaos
around the blind corners
trusting in their brothers, their sisters
under arms, their only hope
in returning home

Ready to protect us, our beliefs
with their lives, if they must
Standing in the breach
Heroes of this land
one and all
remembered more
this Memorial Day.


Memorial Day, May 28, 2007
In the period from Memorial Day 2006 to Memorial Day 2007,
982 soldiers and Marines died in Iraq (per AP reports).
At least 3,452 members of the U.S. military have died
since the beginning of the war in Iraq in March 2003 (per AP reports).
At least 325 members of the U.S. military have died in Afghanistan,
Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion
of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department.


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,410+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.