Tribute to our Brave Boys & Girls who are on Active Service around the World...

Two Minute Silence

As the clock strikes the hour
Minutes start to tick away
The soldier stands, remembering
Vivid horrors of that day

Standing to attention
Upright, with shoulders bracing
He still feels the tension
His thumping heart racing

So young, yet already
He's witnessed cruelty, and things
No man should have to see
Evil atrocities, only War brings

The survivors` scars are inward
Hardened Sergeant, or humble “Squaddie”
Both lost comrades at arms
In confusion, blood, and broken bodies

As the buglers` clear notes play
“Last Post”, in the Albert Hall
He is staring straight ahead
As the silent poppies fall

The UDR Soldier.....

As Poppy Petals Gently Fall
Remember us who gave our all
Not in the mud of foreign lands
Nor buried in the desert sands

In Ulster field and farm and town
Fermanagh`s lanes and Drumlin`d Down
We died that violent death should cease
And Ulstermen might live in peace
We did not serve because we hate
Nor bitterness our hearts dictate

But we were they who must aspire
To quench the flame of terror`s fire
As buglers sound and pipers play
The proud battalions march away
Now may the weary violence cease
And let our country live in peace

The mother of a soldier.....

The mother of a soldier
hats off to her, I say!
The mother of a soldier
who has gone to face the fray;
She gave him to her country
with a blessing on his head --
She found his name this morning
in the long list of the dead:
"Killed -- Sergeant Thomas Watkins,
while leading on the rest,
A Bible in his pocket
and a portrait on his breast!"
The mother of a soldier
-- she gave him to her land;
She saw him on the transport
as he waved his sun-browned hand;
She kissed him through the teardrops
and she told him to be brave;
Her prayers went night and morning
with her boy upon the wave.
The mother of a soldier --
her comfort and her joy,
She gave her dearest treasure
when she gave her only boy;
She saw the banners waving,
she heard the people cheer;
She clasped her hands and bravely
looked away to hide a tear.
The mother of a soldier --
ah! cheer the hero deed,
And cheer the brave who battle
'neath the banner of their creed;
But don't forget the mothers,
through all the lonely years
That fight the bravest battles
on the sunless field of tears.
Nay, don't forget the mothers --
the mothers of our men,
Who see them go and never know
that they'll come back again;
That give them to their country,
to battle and to die,
Because the bugles call them
and the starry banners fly.
The mother of a soldier --
hats off to her, I say!
Whose head is bowed in sorrow
with its tender locks of gray.
She gave without regretting,
though her old heart sorely bled
When she found his name this morning
in the long list of the dead:
"Killed -- Sergeant Thomas Watkins,
while leading on the rest,
His dear old mother's portrait
clasped upon his hero breast!"

The Monsters and the Weak.....

The sun beat like a hammer, not a cloud was in the sky.
The mid-day air ran thick with dust, my throat was parched and dry.
With microphone clutched tight in hand and cameraman in tow,
I ducked beneath a fallen roof, surprised to hear "stay low."
My eyes blinked several times before in shadow I could see,
the figure stretched across the rubble, steps away from me.
He wore a cloak of burlap strips, all shades of grey and brown,
that hung in tatters till he seemed to melt into the ground.
He never turned his head or took his eye from off the scope,
but pointed through the broken wall and down the rocky slope.
"About eight hundred yards," he said, his whispered words concise,
"beneath the baggy jacket he is wearing a device."
A chill ran up my spine despite the swelter of the heat,
"You think he's gonna set it off along the crowded street?"
The sniper gave a weary sigh and said "I wouldn't doubt it,"
"unless there's something this old gun and I can do about it."
A thunderclap, a tongue of flame, the still abruptly shattered;
while citizens that walked the street were just as quickly scattered.
Till only one remained, a body crumpled on the ground,
The threat to oh so many ended by a single round.
And yet the sniper had no cheer, no hint of any gloat,
instead he pulled a logbook out and quietly he wrote.
"Hey, I could put you on TV, that shot was quite a story!"
But he surprised me once again -- "I got no wish for glory."
"Are you for real?" I asked in awe, "You don't want fame or credit?"
He looked at me with saddened eyes and said "you just don't get it."
"You see that shot-up length of wall, the one without a door?
before a mortar hit, it used to be a grocery store."
"But don't go thinking that to bomb a store is all that cruel,
the rubble just across the street -- it used to be a school.
The little kids played soccer in the field out by the road,"
His head hung low, "They never thought a car would just explode."
"As bad as all this is though, it could be a whole lot worse,"
He swallowed hard, the words came from his mouth just like a curse.
"Today the fight's on foreign land, on streets that aren't my own,"
"I'm here today 'cause if I fail, the next fight's back at home."
"And I won't let my Safeway burn, my neighbours dead inside,
don't want to get a call from school that says my daughter died;
I pray that not a one of them will know the things I see,
nor have the work of terrorists etched in their memory."
"So you can keep your trophies and your fleeting bit of fame,
I don't care if I make the news, or if they speak my name."
He glanced toward the camera and his brow began to knot,
"If you're looking for a story, why not give this one a shot."
"Just tell the truth of what you see, without the slant or spin;
that most of us are OK and we're coming home again.
And why not tell our folks back home about the good we've done,
how when they see a soldier, the kids come at a run."
You tell 'em what it means to folks here just to speak their mind,
without the fear that tyranny is just a step behind;
Describe the desert miles they walk in their first chance to vote,
or ask a soldier if he's proud, I'm sure you'll get a quote."
He turned and slid the rifle in a drag bag thickly padded,
then looked again with eyes of steel as quietly he added;
"And maybe just remind the few, if ill of us they speak,
that we are all that stands between the monsters and the weak."

A Soldier's Wife's Prayer.....

Dear Lord,
Give me the greatness of heart to see
The difference between his duty and his love for me.
Give me understanding so that I may know
That when duty calls him, he must go.
Give me a task to do each day
To fill the time when he is away.
And Lord, when he is in a foreign land,
Keep him safe and in your loving hand.

A True Soldier is tough indeed
standing tall and strong when there is a need
A Soldier also feels sadness, pain, and sorrow
Sometimes not looking forward to the trials of tomorrow

When a Soldier is wounded in battle
the nerves of his mates it does rattle
When news reaches friends and family at home
how their worries and minds begin to roam

A wounded Soldier feels inadequate at best
stopping him from much needed healing rest
A wounded Soldiers wonders will he ever be alright,
trusting in God that he'll make it through the night.

When a Soldier is wounded far beyond repair
the loss and pain felt can not compare
The Cost of a Soldier is set so very high
they assure our freedom will always apply

To stand beside a Soldier and walk through his pain
will humble a civilian, no longer to complain
Love, patience, trust and hope is what a Soldier needs
to get them through some very treacherous deeds

Dear Lord please watch over our Military today
as they work to keep our freedom everyday
For the wounded and the families of Soldiers lost
Please Bless them with abundant love, for we know not the cost.

The Cost of a Soldier is set so very high
our support for them we should never deny

"The anthem of the Unknown dead"

The anthem of the unknown dead,
Baptized in a pool of red,

Forgotten through the mists of time,
Both their good deeds and their crimes,

Lost souls buried in foreign lands,
Retaken by all nature's hands,

These men whose sacrifice was all,
From lives of sorrow blest they fall,

With naught to hold aloft but pain,
Forgotten soldiers die in vain,

But Nay, a bloody battle crown,
Is won on God forsaken ground,

When they fell to death`s cold fierce bite,
Alone and friendless in the fight,

Life dripping from their face and brow,
They fall to knees and head they bow,

But spirit keeps it's loyal fire,
A belief in a cause that's higher,

One that conquers fear of death,
And give the dying man new breath,

Honour, passion, quest for glory,
These create the lore of story,

These fuel the heart's desire,
and create the Mental fire,

To happily sacrifice one's all,
To fight in foreign lands then fall,

The anthem of the unknown dead,
Spurs the hearts of man's hero`s bred,

To boldly conquer any height,
To fight a foe as dark as night,

The unknown dead are hero's born,
Their heart and soul on oath they've sworn,

These hero's are the greatest man,
Who proudly die to save the land.

The Patriot.....

The patriot the soldier,
The young and the old,
Protect our great country.
They stand to be bold.

Some protest in spite,
Some riot in rage,
Some scream "Peace and not war!"
From the safety of their cage.

But we who stand up
For freedom to reign,
Give all that we have,
And expect nothing to gain.

But the freedom we win,
We give without fail.
No crying or bitching,
For We have prevailed.

We are the soldiers,
Who give up our lives,
Leave all that we know,
To pay the ultimate price.

Freedom is not free,
It come with it's toll,
And some never return,
And leave their stories untold.

I acknowledge the protest,
The riots, the rage,
And the ones given their freedom
Without having to pay.

But let it be known,
Come rain, sleet or hail,
The Marines are on call,
To fight and die for your betrayal.

The Soldier.....

If I should die, think only this of me: 
That there's some corner of a foreign field 
That is forever England. There shall be 
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; 
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, 
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam; 
A body of England's, breathing English air, 
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home. 
And think, this heart, all evil shed away, 
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less 
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; 
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; 
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, 
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

If I Knew.....

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.
If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.
If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.
If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.
For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.
There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"
But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.
So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,
That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear.
Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

Sniper's Serenity.....

A green phantom stalks these lands,
Thirty Ought Six in a Master's hands.
Chamber a matched, perfect round,
Slide home the bolt, forward and down.

Stay detached, loose and cool,
Time your breathing, remember the rule.
Get them Marine.

The first dies quick, the second has looked,
that one dies fast, a third has booked.
Number Three goes down, sight on Number Four,
this one's for my Brothers, Brothers of the Corps.

Even now at home, I remember that scene,
the four of them and a young Marine,
I would do it again, once more with pride,
to protect my Marines, the enemy has died.

A Tribute to those who served and died.....

In time of War,
they heeded the call
They took up arms
"Freedom For All"
They went to serve
in a far away land
In battles they fought,
they took a stand

In honour of Country, their duty they performed
For those who died, our Country sadly mourned
There were many who fell and gave their lives
Leaving behind children, mothers, fathers and wives

They fought the fight to "Let Freedom Ring"
In honour of that, their praises we sing
To those who died, we salute you all
And give our thanks for heeding the call………

Another Soldier Died Today.....

Another Soldier died today,
On angel wings he flew away.
God needed another warrior to come home,
His body never more to roam.
Another Soldier died today,
A single tear on a lonely grave.
You may never know his name,
But in my heart he will remain
Another Soldier died today,
On Angel wings he flew away.

Proud Mum.....

As a Mum, of a son
in the Regiment of Guard
Mixed feelings are with me
and make my days hard

You raise up your child
and protect them each day
But they grow up too soon
and from home go away

We teach them the basics
the wrongs and the right
So I never expected
that soon he would fight

When I say that he fights
I don't mean with just fist
But fights for our freedom
with the Guard he'd enlist

With a promise to us
he vowed to defend
Our country, Britain
to make terrorism end

So, now in a land
far away called Afghanistan
I pray Lord, please watch him
and bring my son back

Soldier Angel.....

As I lay in bed tonight;
I grip two hands together tight.
I pray for another tomorrow;
That I hope will bring no sorrow.
But yet again, I will see;
Another Soldier missing on T.V.

I pray for you. I pray for all.
I will keep standing firm and tall.
I have faith and hope in you;
For what I believe is true.
That you fight for our country every day;
To keep the enemy far away.

I thank you for what you’ve done for me;
My family and friends, do you see?
You are my “Soldier Angel”;
And for other people as well.
I have never met you. I don’t know your name;
But I still feel the same.

I may only be a very young girl;
But I know what I believe.
If you ask; I will say,
my “Soldier Angel” protects me every day.

Thoughts of a Soldier.....

I struggle to see my objective for the sand blowing in my eyes,
I hear the sound of explosions like thunder from the sky,
My mouth is dry and my body aches,
I must push on no matter what it takes,
the lives of so many innocent keeps running through my mind,
I know this is why my country has put my life on the line,
So don't lose hope Britain we do this for you,
For all your soldiers bleed red, white and blue.......

My Daddy is a Soldier.....

My daddy is a soldier
he’s often gone away
to some far off country
where he has to stay.
I really miss my daddy
and I’m not sure what he does
except he helps other people
who need him very much.
At night when I say my prayers
I ask to keep daddy safe
so that he can come home to us
and sit in his favourite place.
Some nights I can hear mummy cry
when she thinks I’m asleep
I know she misses daddy
and her sadness hurts real deep.
I know that a day may come
when daddy won’t come home
and it scares me even thinking
that we will be alone.
My daddy is a soldier
he’s often gone away
And I am so very proud of him
each and every day.
Come home to us daddy
When your job is done
I know that those people needed you
But they aren’t the only ones.

Friendship.....

Dusty box in closet spare
tired eyes in thinning hair
memories of friendships past
calm the nightmares that will last
dress in uniform fit is tight
comrades in arms to spend the night
hoist a glass of spirits now
as the years fall from brow
was this the youth I used to be
when called for country overseas
left home and family far behind
band of brothers ease the mind
stride for stride we march along
for each other remain strong
battle won can mourn our loss
tally up the terrible cost
thoughts and dreams as they roam
learning now will be going home
others too under locks
winging home in wooden box
touching down on native soil
see crowds of family start to boil
emotions begin to overflow
lovers face in halo’s glow
eyes that see only one
all the medals that were won
little child peeps around
to see the parent that has come down
holding tight to fragile frame
this is worth more than fame
returning to civilian life
many pleasures ease the strife
strangers offer thanks to me
helped keep children’s country free
watching own family grow
not immune to all the woe
when time has come for eternal rest
twas in fact for the best
drifting now back through time
interrupted by doorbell’s chime
my old friends here at last
come on in let’s have a blast

If Daddy Says Goodbye.....

All daddies are special in their own way.
Some daddies ride tractors and work on a farm.
Some daddies drive fire trucks and sound the alarm.
Some daddies are great chefs and can make dessert.
Some daddies play the bagpipes and wear a plaid skirt!

Daddies can do a lot of things.
What does your daddy do?
Some daddies drive noisy tanks that growl and grumble.
Some daddies fly jet planes that roar and rumble.
Some daddies hike in forests that are dark and damp.
Some daddies march in boots that stomp and stamp.
These daddies wear green and are in the Army or Marines.
There are daddies in the Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force too.
They fly planes and sail across the oceans and skies of blue.
They all work hard keeping our great country safe and serene.

Daddies can do a lot of things.
Some daddies have to leave home and go far away.
That’s how they care for you, in their own special way.
If your daddy leaves and he kisses you goodbye,
remember these words and dry the tears from your eyes.
When your daddy leaves and the two of you are apart
He places a tiny little picture of you in his heart.
Everyday no matter where he is,
His soul will whisper these words to the wind.
I will always love you no matter where I go.
I am part of you and you are part of me.
That’s something I'll always know.

Try not to worry, don't be sad.
You'll always be my baby and I'll always be your dad.

The Royal Marine.....

We all came together,
Both young and old.
To fight for our freedom,
To stand and be bold.
In the midst of all evil,
We stand our ground,
And we protect our country
From all terror around.
Peace and not war,
Is what some people say.
But I'll give my life,
So you can live the British way.
I give you the right
To talk of your peace,
To stand in your groups,
And protest in our streets.
But still I fight on.
I don't bitch, I don't whine.
I'm just one of the men
Who is doing your time.
I'm harder than nails,
Stronger than any machine,
I'm the immortal soldier,
I'm a ROYAL MARINE!
So stand in my shoes,
And leave from your home.
Fight for the people who hate you,
With the protests they've shown.
Fight for the stranger,
Fight for the young,
So they all may have,
The great freedom you've won.
Fight for the sick,
Fight for the poor.
Fight for the cripple,
Who lives next door.
But when your time comes,
Do what I've done.
For if you stand up for freedom
You'll stand when the fight's done.

Just Thought You Should Know.....

When I joined the Royal Marines,
I knew I could die.
I put away my blue jeans,
And packed my bags with a sigh.
I said goodbye to my mum and dad
Mum cried her eyes out,
It made me feel pretty bad.
I promised to come home, but we all had our doubts.
My dad said for me to stay strong,
And to keep a stiff upper lip.
He said I'd be back before long,
And gave me a few wartime tips.
I said goodbye to my girlfriend.
We made it known,
That letters we would send,
Because I couldn't call home.
I said goodbye to my little sis,
No longer would her life be pure bliss.
Her company I would, of course, miss,
I gave her a long hug and a kiss.
When I went to war,
I saw terrible things;
Dead and wounded men galore.
I wish I could have grown wings,
So I could have gotten out!
I fought with hardness, valor, and pride!
I never had a doubt,
That I would not have died...
I was shot in the heart,
That place you have for special love.
Yes, it was painful, but I was done playing my part,
I began to feel at ease as my soul drifted above.
Now as I look down on my family,
I'm glad I fought with dignity and pride!
I know that they miss me,
But I'm happy that’s how I died.
Dying for their right and freedom,
Was the best way to go.
My life was over and done,
It was worth the pain-- just thought you should know

bravolima wrote:The Soldier.....

If I should die, think only this of me: 
That there's some corner of a foreign field 
That is forever England. There shall be 
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; 
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, 
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam; 
A body of England's, breathing English air, 
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home. 
And think, this heart, all evil shed away, 
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less 
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; 
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; 
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, 
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

This is a lovely poem, bravolima, and may I add, what a wonderful thread. I've just spent the last ten minutes reading the poems, and it makes one think, sat here, in the comfort of house, home, and warmth, what our soldiers are doing for us out there, and when some die, what sadness it brings to those at home.

A Band of Brothers.....

We were a band of brothers whose blood ran thick,
we stuck together like glue on a stick.

Three lance corporals and Sergeant Mike McNair,
When we got into trouble Mike was always there.

We would protect each other’s back in a fire-fight,
Protect our flanks to the left and the right.

Then when we went back to rest for a day,
We would clean our weapons then kneel down and pray.

We were a group of Royal Marines like no others,
A band of Royal Marines, a band of brothers.

Sergeant McNair would sit down and write to his wife,
For, she was the love and joy of his life.

The lance corporals would sit down and write to their mothers,
Tell them that they shouldn't worry, they were protected by a band of brothers.

Thirteen months they served in this God forsaken land,
Some people back home couldn't really understand.

Then when we came home they would burn the flag that we fought for,
In that land far away and on that distant shore.

We would look at them with posters in their hands,
Look with pity for they didn't understand.

They asked why we would fight a war like we did,
They said that we were killers of women and kids.

We fought for you, your fathers and mothers,
We are proud Royal Marines, a band of brothers.

Hi Shine, thank you for your kind words.. and yes you are correct when you say that we sit at home in the warmth while our soldiers are fighting so that one day we may live in peace.....The poem which is called the soldier was written in 1914 by Rupert Brooke..

And what a poignant poem from the First World War it is, bravolima.

A powerful poem is Wilfred Owen's, 'Dulce et Decroum'. I know it's well known, but like Beethoven's Ninth, its genius and piercing realism makes it so.