I visited the Ernie Pyle Historical Site in Dana, IN for the first time in a number of years over the Memorial Day weekend in 2005. The atmosphere there, with the expanded vistor's center, sometimes sharply contrasted with the atmosphere surrounding the Memorial Day weekend. Since many of the exhibits at the site include Mr. Pyle's words from his World War II newspaper columns, it was almost like a personal visit.

'Twas Memorial Day, so after church,

I took a little ride

to the small farm house in Dana

where Ernie did reside.


He showed me around

his kitchen and den,

talked about his life and family

and then he stopped

and sat for a while to talk

of his days with GI Joe


He spoke with kind, but brutal prose

about men in bunkers and those

who died on beaches

or those who fell

and were laid by cobblestone walls.


He shared a cup

and talked about the front,

speaking in an errily peaceful tone.


Then he waived goodye

by a sign which read

"Here, we lost a buddy."


I pondered the weekend

after saying goodbye,

and hoped we'd all remember.