Monday, May 30, 2011

Remember Us

The young dead soldiers do not speak.

Nevertheless, they are heard in the still houses:

who has not heard them?

They have a silence that speaks for them at night and when the clock counts.

They say: We were young. We have died.

Remember us.

They say: We have done what we could but until it is finished it is not done.

They say: We have given our lives but until it is finished no one can know what our lives gave.

They say: Our deaths are not ours: they are yours, they will mean what you make them.

They say: Whether our lives and our deaths were for

peace and a new hope or for nothing we cannot say,

it is you who must say this.

We leave you our deaths. Give them their meaning.

We were young, they say. We have died; remember us.

Archibald MacLeish

My son is only back from Afghanistan for less that a month. We feel blessed. Many he served with did not return. I feel torn because I am a lucky Mum. For just a moment, please, set aside a space in your heart to honour our sons and daughters who have fallen for us, in this war and the so many wars that have come before.

Remember them.

15 comments:

windrock studio said...

Bless you and your son, LeAnn, and all the many who did not come home.
War makes me so sad and angry.

Jen Judd said...

I'm happy to have my husband back, too...makes this weekend even more special. Enjoy your family!
Jen

EB Bead and Metal Works, LLC said...

I am happy your son is back from Afghanistan. Thank him for his service. Enjoy the day and the week!

Laura Twiford said...

God Bless your son and all he has served with, thank him for us

sharon said...

Without your son and the others like him we would not be talking about this. Tell him I thank him from the bottom of my heart. His efforts and service is what today is all about, and I am so happy for all of you to be together.

somethingunique said...

Hi LeeAnn,God Bless you and your son & family & all the men & women & their family's on this day of remberance but let it be know that we think of you "everyday" not just today and appreciate everything you are doing so that we can all keep doing what we are doing so a big giant THANK-YOU from Canada!! take care and enjoy your time together with tons of hugs and love ttfn L:)

Judy said...

Thanks for sharing those beautiful words LeAnn...My son's best friend left for Afghanistan a few days ago and a very dear friend is out at sea for 7 months. We think of them everyday and wait till the day that we will also be able to embrace them.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful that you have him home LeAnn. Thinking of you all.

Barbara Lewis said...

I'm so happy that you're reunited as a family, but I'm sorry that they're so many that don't have the same experience.

steufel said...

Wow - so happy for you. And Memorial day is really a great event. Here in Germany the people usually forget about the sacrifices our soldiers made for us. That's a shame.

Anonymous said...

war is an ugly thing, but we should never forget those who have made the biggest sacrifice for us.
my dad served in WWII. he was one of the lucky ones who made it back home. i wish they could all come back home

Anonymous said...

God Blessed us with a MIGHTY Force... I appreciate them all.... the words you posted were beautiful.. Thank you... and please tell your son, Thank you.
Take care.

Cindy said...

Please share our thanks with your son - we are all truly so grateful for his service. I hope you have a wonderful reunion with him, I know this special time will fly by way too fast. I'm so glad he is home safe with you now.

Esther said...

Beautiful words..

Anna Lear said...

Such a beautiful and moving post; Blogger wouldn't let me comment last week but I had to come back to thank you for this. And thanks to your son for his service; I'll hold him and all of you in my thoughts.