A time to remember

l-r: Great-uncle Ray (Army, peacetime between Korea and Vietnam), Grandfather Charles (Navy, WWII), Great-grandfather Ralph (Army, WWI), Great-uncle Ralph (Army, WWII), Great-uncle Derrell (Navy, Korea)

THE MEN WHO DIED

We are the spirits of the men who died.

In wars gone by - Grim Reaper's toll demand.

We are the spirits of the men who tried

To make the world safe for our common land.

We speak from out the ages that have gone,

Since patriots made this our nation free.

We seek from bloody pages history's wrong

in glorifying war's barbarity.

Why do you there who live so soon forget

The dead and dying, wounded and the maimed?

Why do you there who live so soon forget

Your loved ones whom eternity has claimed?

Why do you look forward with hearts aglow

For coming wars to build your wealth and pride?

We speak from ages near and long ago:

We are the spirits of the men who died.

~Ralph S. Southern~

(pictured above, in the middle)

Memorial Day is a day to not only remember those who have fought and died for us, but also a day to remember those we have loved and lost. Each Memorial Day, I set aside some time to show pictures to my kids and tell them about the wonderful people they never got the chance to meet, or were too young to remember. That is what today is, a time to remember.