the platitudes of willful resemblance

I was going to post up an old poem today but my wife put better what it was I wanted to say – here are her words – may all have a thoughtful memorial day…

On Memorial Day

We remember all those whose chance at life was cut short and those whose lives were forever changed because of the ugliness of war.

We remember those who died thousands of miles away from home.
Who never enjoyed the scent of their mother’s perfume again.
Who never had the chance of experiencing fatherhood and motherhood.
Who never got the chance of holding their babies.
Who will never again wake up in a warm bed.
Who will never again enjoy being in the arms of their loved ones.
Who never got the chance to experience love for the first time.
Who died surrounded by death and destruction.

We remember, those who came back, their innocence lost.
Innocence lost on a field amid blood and limbs.
Who forever have to live with brutal scars both inside and out.
Who will forever wake up from nightmares the rest of us can’t begin to imagine.
Who will endure for a lifetime the awful visions of evil war.
Who will never again be the same innocent boys and girls they were before the left.

In Memory of both my Grandfathers who served In World War II. In Memory of my 4 Great Uncles who served in WWII, including Robert Wych who died on the U.S.S. Indianapolis.

To my Father, Robert Van Wych, who served on the front lines of Vietnam, forever haunted by the evils of war.

– Kara Baker