I thank all of the women and men that have served so that we can enjoy freedom in this Country. I think that this poem echos my feelings.
If you are able,
save for them a place
inside of you
and save one backward glance
when you are leaving
for the places they can
no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say
you loved them,
though you may
or may not have always.
Take what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep it with your own.
And in that time
when men decide and feel safe
to call the war insane,
take one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
you left behind.
Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
1 January 1970
Dak To, Vietnam
The poem was published in Dear America-Letters Home From Vietnam, which was edited by Bernard Edelman and first published in 1985.
With Love,
CtrlAltDel aka Dave
C4/5 Complete - 29 Years Post
Texas, USA
