SwiftVets.com

[jalexson]

Honoring the heroes

Dan Geiger
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As the War on Terror has progressed, the fight seems to have shifted from overseas to the home front. Many disagree with Bush’s performance as commander in chief, and while there is ample reason to be discussing the politics of the war, we must never forget the huge sacrifice being made by the soldiers and their families.

Even as you read this, “All are giving some, and some are giving all.” Being a lover of poetry, I would submit these two poems in thankful tribute to the brave members of our armed forces and their families who continue to ensure that we remain the land of the free.
Hero at the Door

The morning of 11 September

In the year 2001,

Will always be remembered

As the day the towers came tumbling down.

From the rubble, heroes arose

To answer the eagle’s call

To take up arms against a foe

Who thought he made us fall.

Moms and dads sent sons and daughters.

Sons and daughters sent moms and dads.

To avenge a senseless slaughter,

To bring some good from so much bad.

There’s now a chosen “band of brothers”

Standing side by side.

Fighting against all others,

Who, behind great evil, hide.

A warrior’s heart seeks only peace,

And he knows it has a price.

It will not come, ’til wars are ceased.

After warrior blood is sacrificed.

Our soldiers stand ever ready

To guard our nation’s gates.

Ever vigilant, ever steady,

Trusting to God, their fate.

So, beware if you come knocking

Bringing malice to our shores.

Behind the sound of the unlocking,

Stands a hero at the door.
A Tribute to a Soldier’s Wife

A soldier’s wife will fight a war

her man will never see;

Tho’ he serves his entire time

with the Airborne, Rangers or infantry.

An unseen battle where no bugles play,

or trumpets call to arms.

The only weapons she will use

are her dignity and charm.

She, too, rises very early in the morn

like her man so far away;

To do battle with the enemy

with no thought of price or pay.

Her foe does not bleed or die;

just retreats, to come back stronger —

and despite angry tears, and sighs

she’s prepared to fight on even longer.

She asks for no quarter and none is given;

it is a fight unto the end.

She’s ever vigilant, waiting, watching —

always ready; willing to defend.

Who is this enemy, you may ask:

against whom then does she fight?

Against the doubts of loyalty;

against loneliness and fright.

Alone in the evenings she struggles

with thoughts and hurts and fears;

With no one to offer comfort —

or kiss away the tears;

The war is finally over;

her man is coming home.

She too has her scars and wounds, so real,

but not on flesh and bone.

Time will heal the untold pain —

it’s the price of being free.

She gladly fought and paid the price;

She’s a soldier, too you see.
Dan Geiger is a member of the Observer’s Community Advisory Board, which meets regularly with the editorial board to discuss local issues and contributes op-ed columns. He retired from the Army in 1997 and has been teaching for six years. He is a 2005 graduate of the Institute for Community Leadership in Fayetteville.

http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=266730
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"That awful power, the public opinion of a nation, is created in America by a horde of ignorant, self-complacent simpletons who failed at ditching and shoe making and fetched up in journalism on their way to the poor house."
-- Mark Twain

[Fort Campbell]

Excellent poetry. Thank you for sharing.