In Memory Of Those Who Served

WWI my grandfather was too young
by WWII he was too old but his sons had to go
four enlisted at the same time. Grandpa 

had to deal with the farm on his own until 

his older sons returned then two middle ones 

left to fight in the Korean conflict. 

Grandma became ill with
so many boys in foreign lands
she died when the two came home
the youngest one never had to go
he developed asthma.
Fortunately there were no wars
for the girls to worry about
through they dated plenty of servicemen
when they moved to California.

In my generation an older brother served
during the Vietnam conflict
met my husband just before he joined

the navy. He had two brothers
who had returned from overseas
before the fighting escalated.

When my sons were of age
one wanted to enlist
it was the only time I got angry with him
didn’t want him offering his life
for an oil conflict created
by the Bush president.

Soldiers who served during Desert Storm
came back with nerve damage
and had deformed children
from chemical warfare
almost undetected except for the symptoms
from many of those who enlisted. 

My grandchildren were babies
when the towers fell
their lives under the umbrella of terrorism.
They live at a time when girls 
are fighting to get into battle

it is no longer an all male war.

Military strength ensures our freedom

but in watching movies from Rome
to the present, reading about
unrest from the Congo to Syria
it seems there is something about
weapons that encourages war
but who will be the first to put down
their  arms and declare peace?


This is in memory of all who served.