photo courtesy of visitingdc.comThey sat in the second and third pews in the section left of center. I couldn't even look at them, for fear of losing my composure, as our quartet sang these words:
Blades of grass and pure white stones
Shelter those who've come and gone
Just below the emerald sod
Are boys who reached the arms of God.
Buried here with dignity
Endless rows for all to see
Freedom's seeds in sorrow sown
'Neath blades of grass and pure white stones.
Blades of grass and pure white stones
Cover those who left their homes
To rest in fields here, side by side,
Lest we forget their sacrifice
Buried here with dignity
Endless rows for all to see
Freedom's seeds in sorrow sown,
'Neath blades of grass and pure white stones.
words and music by Philip Naish, Orrin Hatch and Lowell Alexander
Three families from our county. All had sons killed in Iraq. They were invited guests to our church yesterday. We honored the memory of their sons as well as all those who had died serving our country.
There were not too many dry eyes in our congregation.
To some, it may have seemed unkind, even cruel to put them through another service of remembrance. But as one of the Gold Star mothers put it: "We are so afraid people will forget."
Let us never forget.
4 comments:
I have never been so moved than when I stood in Arlington Cemetery and looked at the acres and acres of white stones marking graves of veterans. It is an incredible sight.
So is the Vietnam Wall, which also made me cry.
Wonderful song.
What a lovely thing for your church to do for these dear ones who sacrificed so much. Thank your pastor for me for this special service.
Remembering, Honoring and Praying here, too!
Blessings!
Just reading that gave me the chills, Cheri. I had a cousin who was a Marine that was killed in Beirut. Reading this made me remember hearing Taps played at his burial site in our hometown.
Thank you for your comments. The words to that song continue to play in my head as I too, remember.
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