Sunday, May 25, 2014

The Young Dead Soldiers

The Young Dead Soldiers

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.
They say: We leave you our deaths. Give them their meaning. We were young, they say. We have died. Remember us. 


 Archibald MacLeish

4 comments:

  1. Thank you for your service to our country, David. I only hope you find your medical needs improved with the recent VA attention. I hate the politics involved (both sides blaming the other) but hopefully it will help to just get it fixed.

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  2. Thanks Andy, I don't look for the VA to change much even with all the negative publicity though.

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  3. I am quite sure the VA will hire more Practitioners. It's the only way to reduce waiting times. You can't do it with administrative slight of hand. And I am hoping the next generation does not have to fight and die...

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  4. Sweeping dirt and corruption out of sight is never a good policy. My Dad used to tell Don & I "the squeaking wheel gets the grease". And I remain hopeful that all the negative publicity about the VA - will result in some positive changes.

    Best Wishes ---- Ronald Mahan

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