HOMELAND HEROES

HOMELAND HEROES

My second posting in honor of Memorial Day was written to recognize those who loyally served at home during World War II. I remember as a youngster pulling a wagon filled with shirt parts from house to house. My brothers and I would leave off one part of a completed shirt, pickup the parts that had been sewed at that house, and take them to the next home for the next step in the process. In winter we followed the same procedure using a sled.

As you will see in my poem, all of us shared in the war effort.

I still can see the banners with stars on them for each family member who was in the service. There were two stars on the banner that hung in our window. My oldest brother served in the Navy and the next oldest, in the army. After the war me and my next younger brother served in the New York National Guard. My youngest brother served in the Navy during the Korean War.

Toward the middle of the war a large wooden monument was placed in front of our high school with the names of all who served in the U. S. Military. Gold stars were painted next to the names of those killed in action. One banner with a gold star hung in the window of the house on the corner of our block. The whole neighborhood felt the sorrow of Jack’s family.

As I paid tribute in my last posting to those who served in the active military service, so now my tribute extends to those who provided them with the resources to fight.

I hope as you read these poems you will take time to pray for those who are now giving their all on behalf of our great country.

HOMELAND HEROES

Silent Heroes served in our wars,
They never left our homeland shores.
Worked in factories and in their homes.
Not heralded with heartfelt tomes.

Dedicated souls went to work,
Patriot duties did not shirk.
Ten to twelve hours – six day week,
Glory and praise they did not seek.

No silk or nylons their legs graced,
With painted limbs to work they raced.
Built planes, tanks and all tools of war.
Only to hear, "Make more, make more."

In many homes throughout our land,
They gave their best to tasks at hand.
Small victory gardens cared for well,
Whose was best it was hard to tell.

Shirts and jackets were needed bad,
Parts carried to houses by lads.
Our mothers cut and sewed the parts,
Did what they did with all their hearts.

The junkman down our alleys came,
Took any trash that he could claim
All kinds of junk he gladly took.
It was pulled out from every nook.

Scrap metal drives and bond sales too,
Bought saving stamps to pull us through.
Alloy replaced our copper coins,
Our nation told, "Gird up your loins."

Rationing came, far less to eat,
And little gas our needs to meet.
A, B and C the coupons read,
Price ceilings set by those who led.

The sirens wail, the lights go out,
The air raid warden really shouts.
The people huddle, they are stressed,
The siren sounds ‘twas just a test.

Banner in window with blue star,
Child was serving in lands afar.
But when the star was turned to gold.
A tragic story did unfold.

A life was given, oh, so young.
A child upon whom hope was hung.
Parents grieve, their hearts are broken,
The dread work of war has spoken.

Husband taken from child and wife,
For his country he gave his life.
Never to see his young newborn,
Left a widow to mourn and mourn.

Yes, silent heroes all were they,
Freely gave their children away.
Served in factories and in their homes.
Seldom included in war tomes.

To those who served within our land,
You are a very special brand.
Helped win the war, in silence served.
You never from your purpose swerved.

Oh, let the songs of freedom ring,
In liberty our voices sing.
And so to you we say with praise,
A loud THANK YOU with voices raised.

Hugs, In Christ's and Our Love,

Don E. Cunningham ©7-8-06 (Posted 5/25/08)