Please Wear A Poppy

[luvablenursexx]

PLEASE WEAR A POPPY.
"Please wear a poppy," the lady said
And held one forth, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there,
And her face was old and lined with care;
But beneath the scars the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on care-free feet.
His smile was full of joy and fun,
"Lady," said he, "may I have one?"
When she's pinned in on he turned to say,
"Why do we wear a poppy today?"
The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,
And the poppy there is the symbol for
The gallant men who died in war.
And because they did, you and I are free -
That's why we wear a poppy, you see.
"I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
and became a man - as you will, too.
"He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he'd seemed with us such a little while
When war broke out and he went away.
I still remember his face that day
When he smiled at me and said, Goodbye,
I'll be back soon, Mom, so please don't cry.
"But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight,
(I can see it still in my dreams at night),
With the tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.
"Till at last, at last, the war was won -
And that's why we wear a poppy son."
The small boy turned as if to go,
Then said, "Thanks, lady, I'm glad to know.
That sure did sound like an awful fight,
But your son - did he come back all right?"
A tear rolled down each faded check;
She shook her head, but didn't speak.
I slunk away in a sort of shame,
And if you were me you'd have done the same;
For our thanks, in giving, if oft delayed,
Thought our freedom was bought - and thousands paid!
And so when we see a poppy worn,
Let us reflect on the burden borne,
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer their country's call
That we at home in peace might live.
Then wear a poppy! Remember - and give!
~~By Don Crawford.~~

[allforme]

thanks sweetie

[Giesabrekk]

Just got it last week when I was back in Glasgow.

That's a lovely poem luvablenursexx, thank you.

[luvablenursexx]

thanks

[Gunns472]

Won't Be Long And They Will Be Gone

From a Military Doctor
I am a doctor specializing in Emergency Medicine in the Emergency
Departments of the only two military Level One-trauma centers. They are
both in San Antonio, TX and they care for civilian Emergencies as well as
military personnel. San Antonio has the largest military retiree
population in the world living here, because of the location of these two
large military medical centers. As a military doctor in training in my
specialty, I work long hours and the pay is less than glamorous.
One tends to become jaded by the long hours, lack of sleep, food, family
contact and the endless parade of human suffering passing before you. The
arrival of another ambulance does not mean more pay, only more work.
Most often, it is a victim from a motor vehicle crash. Often it is a person
of dubious character who has been shot or stabbed. With our large military
retiree population, it is often a nursing home patient.
Even with my enlisted service and minimal combat experience in Panama,
prior to medical school, I have caught myself groaning when the ambulance
brought in yet another sick, elderly person from one of the local
retirement centers that cater to military retirees. I had not stopped to
think of what citizens of this age group represented.
I saw "Saving Private Ryan." I was touched deeply. Not so much by the
carnage in the first 30 minutes, but by the sacrifices of so many. I was
touched most by the scene of the elderly survivor at the graveside, asking
his wife if he'd been a good man. I realized that I had seen
these same men and women coming through my Emergency Dept. and had not
realized what magnificent sacrifices they had made. The things they did for
me and everyone else that has lived on this planet since the end of that
conflict are priceless.
Situation permitting, I now try to ask my patients about their experiences.
They would never bring up the subject without the inquiry. I have been
privileged to an amazing array of experiences, recounted in the brief
minutes allowed in an Emergency Dept. encounter. These
experiences have revealed the incredible individuals I have had the honor
of serving in a medical capacity, many on their last admission to the
hospital.
There was a frail, elderly woman who reassured my young enlisted medic,
trying to start an IV line in her arm. She remained calm and poised,
despite her illness and the multiple needle-sticks into her fragile veins.
She was what we call a "hard stick." As the medic made another attempt, I
noticed a number tattooed across her forearm. I touched it with one finger
and looked into her eyes. She simply said "Auschwitz." Many of later
generations would have loudly and openly berated the young medic in his many
attempts. How different was the
response from this person who'd seen unspeakable suffering.
Also, there was this long retired Colonel, who as a young officer had
parachuted from his burning plane over a Pacific Island held by the
Japanese. Now an octogenarian, his head cut in a fall at home where he
lived alone. His CT scan and suturing had been delayed until after
midnight by the usual parade of high priority ambulance patients. Still

spry for his age, he asked to use the phone to call a taxi, to take him
home, then he realized his ambulance had brought him without his wallet.
He asked if he could use the phone to make a long distance call to his
daughter who lived 7 miles away. With great pride we told him that he could
not, as he'd done enough for his country and the least we could do was get
him a taxi home, even if we had to pay for it ourselves. My only regret was
that my shift wouldn't end for several hours, and I couldn't drive him
myself.
I was there the night MSgt. Roy Benavidez came through the Emergency Dept.
for the last time. He was very sick. I was not the doctor taking care of
him, but I walked to his bedside and took his hand. I said nothing. He was
so sick, he didn't know I was there. I'd read his
Congressional Medal of Honor citation and wanted to shake his hand. He died
a few days later.
The gentleman who served with Merrill's Marauders, the survivor of the
Bataan Death March, the survivor of Omaha Beach, the 101 year old World War
I veteran, the former POW held in frozen North Korea, the former Special
Forces medic - now with non-operable liver cancer, the former Viet Nam Corps
Commander. I remember these citizens.
I may still groan when yet another ambulance comes in, but now I am much
more aware of what an honor it is to serve these particular men and women.
I have seen a Congress who would turn their back on these individuals
who've sacrificed so much to protect our liberty. I see later generations
that seem to be totally engrossed in abusing these same liberties, won with
such sacrifice.
It has become my personal endeavor, to make the nurses and young enlisted
medics aware of these amazing individuals when I encounter them in our
Emergency Dept. Their response to these particular citizens has made Me
think that perhaps all is not lost in the next generation.
My experiences have solidified my belief that we are losing an incredible
generation, and this nation knows not what it is losing. Our uncaring
government and ungrateful civilian populace should all take note. We should
all remember that we must "Earn this."
Written By
CPT. Stephen R. Ellison, M.D.
(If you send this story along to friends, please include the author's
name. Thank you!)

[oldjoe]

In Flander's Field:

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow,
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead.
Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved and now we lie,
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw,
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us, who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow,
In Flanders Fields.

For more than 75 years, the VFW's Buddy Poppy program has raised millions of dollars in support of veterans' welfare and the well being of their dependents.

The VFW conducted its first poppy distribution before Memorial Day in 1922, becoming the first veterans' organization to organize a nationwide distribution. The poppy soon was adopted as the official memorial flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

It was during the 1923 encampment that the VFW decided that VFW Buddy Poppies be assembled by disabled and needy veterans who would be paid for their work to provide them with some form of financial assistance. The plan was formally adopted during the VFW's 1923 encampment. The next year, disabled veterans at the Buddy Poppy factory in Pittsburgh assembled VFW Buddy Poppies. The designation "Buddy Poppy" was adopted at that time.

In February 1924, the VFW registered the name "Buddy Poppy" with the U.S. Patent Office. A certificate was issued on May 20, 1924, granting the VFW all trademark rights in the name of Buddy under the classification of artificial flowers. The VFW has made that trademark a guarantee that all poppies bearing that name and the VFW label are genuine products of the work of disabled and needy veterans. No other organization, firm or individual can legally use the name "Buddy" Poppy.

Today, VFW Buddy Poppies are still assembled by disabled and needy veterans in VA Hospitals.

The minimal assessment (cost of Buddy Poppies) to VFW units provides compensation to the veterans who assemble the poppies, provides financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans' rehabilitation and service programs and partially supports the VFW National Home for orphans and widows of our nation's veterans.

[luvablenursexx]

[vetteindreams]

*salutes thread*

[luvablenursexx]

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.



It is the VETERAN,
who salutes the Flag,


It is the veteran,
who serves under the Flag,



ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

Our US Senate/House took 2 days off as they couldn't work because of an expected storm. Because of the dangers from Hurricane Isabelle approaching Washington DC, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment.

They respectfully declined the offer, "No way, Sir!"

Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment; it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a service person.

The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.

We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.


God Bless them all!!!

Look at the black patch under the U.S. flag.

The patch says "Doing the work of" The flags are France,Germany,and Russia.

The Kindest Word Is ------ EMPATHY
The Greatest Gift Is ------ GIVING

[delboy2222]