What is Memorial Day ...

Is it just another "picnicking" holiday ...

Or rather, a time to Honor our forgotten Brave?

Does anyone remember to pray ... for what they gave?

'Twas not so long ago ...

Only a pair of centuries ...

That able men did go,

to meet ... their destinies.

Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys,

took up arms, and left their toys.

At Bunker Hill, they used every means ...

Lives were laid down, in bloody scenes.

Then, in 1812 ... there began a War,

O'er land and sea, from shore to shore,

guns were fired, and there was gore ...

The "Star-Spangled Banner" was born ... in old Baltimore.

Later on, in Texas, more brave men struck a blow,

and gave their lives ... at the Alamo.

Davey Crockett, Jim Bowie ... and others,

bought Independence ... for their wives and mothers.

Then, the deepest scar ... involved fathers and brothers,

obeying their consciences, subduing their "druthers",

the South and North, both Grey and Blue ...

Fought one another ... 'til it was through.

Near the turn of the century, as the story is told,

Teddy Roosevelt and the "Rough Riders" were very bold.

The Spanish-American War was won ... by daring and will,

at the decisive battle of "San Juan Hill."

Not long after, the First World War did come,

and many a fine young lad did serve,

across the ocean wide ... far away from home,

Freedom was defended ... Duty did not swerve.

Then there was "The War to End All Wars" ... WWII,

hundreds of thousands went, men and ... women, too!

The Allied Forces stood up to the Axis' Power,

and won the war with ... Sacrifice and Valor.

Next, was a simple, mere ... "Police Action"

involving us against a Chinese Communist faction.

A truce was finally obtained ... neither cheaply, nor quick,

and many died in this Korean ... "Conflict."

No one likes to talk about ... Vietnam,

an unpopular strife ... which lacked aplomb.

The Blood of Heroes ran ... Just as Red as Ever,

but many who returned, remain thankless, for their endeavor.

Finally, just last year, the empty victory of ... "Desert Storm,"

tho' our lasses and lads were swift and valiant ... true to form,

Our astute leaders Failed to ... Squash the "Worm".

Albeit, the Blood of Heroes, once again

preserved ... the American Norm.