THE FINAL INSPECTION

A great poem for Memorial Day. For the record a Marine is not a Soldier.

THE SOLDIER STOOD AND FACED HIS GOD

WHICH MUST ALWAYS COME TO PASS
HE HOPED HIS SHOES WERE SHINING
JUST AS BRIGHTLY AS HIS BRASS

"STEP FORWARD NOW YOU SOLDIER,
HOW SHALL I DEAL WITH YOU?
HAVE YOU ALWAYS TURNED TO OTHER CHEEK?
TO MY CHURCH HAVE YOU BEEN TRUE?"

THE SOLDIER SQUARED HIS SHOULDERS AND SAID
"NO, LORD I GUESS I AINT
BUT THOSE OF US WHO CARRY GUNS,
CANT ALWAYS BE A SAINT

I'VE HAD TO WORK MOST SUNDAYS,
AND AT TIMES MY TALK IS TOUGH
AND SOMETIMES IVE BEEN VIOLENT
BECAUSE THE WORLD IS AWFULLY ROUGH

BUT I NEVER TOOK A PENNY
THAT WASN'T MINE TO KEEP
THOUGH I WORKED ALOT OF OVER TIME
WHEN BILLS GOT JUST TOO STEEP

AND I NEVER PASSED A CRY FOR HELP
THOUGH AT TIMES I SHOOK WITH FEAR.
AND SOMETIMES GOD FORGIVE ME
IVE WEPT UNMANLY TEARS

I KNOW I DONT DESERVE A PLACE
AMONG THESE PEOPLE HERE
THEY NEVER WANTED ME AROUND
EXCEPT TO CALM THEIR FEARS

IF YOU'VE A PLACE HERE, LORD
IT NEEDN'T BE SO GRAND,
I NEVER EXPECTED OR HAD TOO MUCH
BUT IF YOU DONT IL UNDERSTAND

THERE WAS A SILENCE ALL AROUND THE THRONE
WHERE THE SAINTS HAD OFTEN TROD
AS THE SOLDIER WAITED QUIETLY
FOR THE JUDGMENT OF HIS GOD

"STEP FORWARD NOW, YOU SOLDIER
YOU'VE BORNE YOUR BURDENS WELL
WALK PEACEFULLY IN HEAVENS STREETS
YOU'VE DONE YOUR TIME IN HELL."

Remember The Fallen - Memorial Day 2011

I have always loved this poem. Hope you do too.

"My love, you are strong and you will do well in life. I love you and my children deeply. Today and tomorrow, each day grow and grow. Keep smiling and never give up, even when things get you down. So, in closing, my love...tonight, tuck my children in bed warmly. Tell them I love them. Then hug them for me...and give them both a kiss good night for Daddy."

From Blackhawk Down.

I Stand Before You

I Stand Before You - Roger J. Robicheau

I stand before you all today
But not one eye can see my way

My time arrived, to leave this earth
A fact so planned, to every birth

It happened where I had to go
My torch for life was so aglow

I transferred while in uniform
Protecting freedom, through a storm

Should I resent I died for you
Not on my life, red white and blue

Please help my family through each day
Tell all my friends, try not to stray

And of the country I did love
Do think of me, through God above

Your memories, brought forth this day
Send love to us, who could not stay