Wow!

That poem stoped me in my tracks...

Freedom is not free...count me in on the 17th

It's an excellent poem. The images add value as well. I really wish the Left could understand such a basic premise - freedom isn't free.

I've been following the Gathering of Eagles emails and I'm so proud of all of you for what you are preparing to do in honor of all of our veterans and soldiers who are deployed throughout the world. I hope the world will see how strong you will be in numbers compared to the number of protesters. As far as I'm concerned these protesters should be arrested and charged with treason....I know, I know.....they are only exercising one of our many freedoms - freedom of speech.....BS as far as I'm concerned. They are all traitors and I have no use for any of them. The Jane Fonda's, the Ted Kennedy's, the John Kerry's - they are all empowering the terrorists to forge ahead even harder and stronger every day. I'm disgusted with all of them.

Thank you for your serice to our country and thank you for your continued service to protect and respect and honor the memory of our veterans. God Bless all of you.

From a simple middle aged woman who strongly believes in our President, stands behind him and prays daily for our troops. God Bless all of them as well. Eleanor Metro

I couldn't say more. I love my country more than life it self. I want to leave something for my kids to remember us by. This is what the real America is.

I thank God that I am still alive to see what could be a very real transition back to real values.

I will be at the Wall. I will see America as I always remembered it. Thank you fellow Eagles. I will never forget your service. I will never forget that I am part of what is the real return to our values.

A poem from the Civil war about soldiers, it was published in 1863 in the Delaware Statesman and Journal. There was no author listed. I hope all enjoy it.

Wounded

Let me lie down, Just here in the shade of this cannon-torn tree. Here, low on the trampled grass, where I may see The surge of the combat, and where I may hear The glad cry of victory, cheer upon cheer; Let me lie down.

Oh it was grand! Like the tempest we charged, in the triumph to share; The tempest—its fury and thunder were there; On, on, o’er intrenchment, o’er living and dead, With the foe underfoot and our flag overhead: Oh, it was grand!

Weary and faint, Prone on the soldier’s curb, ah, how can I rest With this shot-shattered head and saber-pierced breast Comrades at roll call, when I shall be sought, Say I fought till I fell and fell where I fought, Wounded and faint.

Oh, that last charge! Right through the dread hell-fire of shrapnel and shell, Through without faltering—clear through with a yell, Right in their midst, in the turmoil and gloom, Like heroes we dashed at the mandate of doom! Oh, that last charge!

It was duty! Some things are worthless, and some others so good That nations who buy them pay only in blood; For Freedom and Union each man owes his part, And here I pay my share all, warm from my heart: It is duty!

Dying at last! My mother, dear mother, with meets tearful eye! Farewell! and God bless you, forever and always Oh that I now lay on your pillowing breast; To breathe my last sigh on the bosom first Dying at last!

I am no saint, But, boys, say a prayer. There’s one that begins: "Our Father," and then say "Forgive us our sins;" Don’t forget that part!—say that strongly—and then I’ll try to repeat it, and you’ll say Amen! Ah, I’m no saint!

Hark!—There’s a shout! Raise me up comrades! We have conquered, I know! Up, up on my feet, with my face to the foe! Ah, there flies the Flag, with its Star Spangles bright, The promise of Glory, the symbol of Right! Well may they shout!

I’m mustered out! O God of our fathers, our freedom prolong, And tread down rebellion, oppression and wrong! O land of earth’s hope, on thy blood-reddened sod I die for the Nation, the Union, and God! I’m mustered out!

The picture of the Marine burial detail. The 2 Lcpl's to the right are way out of uniform regulations. They both are wearing bloodstripas on their trousers and both are wearing NCO brass on their belt, And whats with the 4 service hash marks on the LcPL to the right?

They are wearing it looks like black arm bands. I'm a 1stSgt USMC ret, and the same caught my eye. It does look like arm bands though. I have no explanation for that. Anyone? 1stSgt USMC ret

I would like to take a moment to remember as I always do and think about three fallen brother from my battalion, the 2/502nd Combat Infantry Battalion Strike Force Widow Makers 101st Airborne Division who paid the supreme sacrifice on this date March 10, 1968 during the battle to rid Hue of the murdering communist NVA who had slaughtered untold numbers of innocent civilians, students and professors during the NVA foiled Tet Offensive that started January 30, 1968. One was "Doc" Richard C. Brown one of our medics in my Company and a friend I still think of almost every day. Robert Rera and Steve Worley both who were in our Recon unit that had been killed when Recon was ambushed and we had been trying to come to their aid when we too were led into another ambush just above the Perfume River above the old Capital City. These fallen heroes are three of the sadly many reasons I personally have out of the 58,000 plus names just and I use the word JUST reverently when thinking of the countless reasons we Vietnam and other veterans as well as loyal Americans have for being in Washington in total support of the GOE and showing our support for the brave men and women fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere against the Muslim Fascist and others who wish to cause harm against this great nation. That includes those who wish us harm from within as well as from without including the invasion we are seeing from south of the American border by illegal aliens and the key word here is illegal. I know I along with my fellow 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles will stand firm as I feel in my heart all my Marine Corp and other service brothers will not give one inch to these scum that threaten to throw acid and any means they can in their foolish and ignorant attempts to cause harm to our most sacred of monuments. I fear we must stand guard as well with our Marine Corp brothers in helping to protect the Iwo Jima Monument for these un-Amarican low lifes have no morals or love of Country that allows them such freedom to protest, but not to commit crimes and vandalize. I fear we may end up having to teach them what they did not learn from their mommies and daddy's when they were younger and that is what a "trip to the old wood shed is all about". Charlie Gant Vietnam 67-68 Strike Force, Airborne