A Poem for the Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day

Here is a poem which I wrote and humbly dedicate to all American veterans who lost their lives in the war on terrorism, and fighting for freedom and peace throughout the world:

In Loving Memory*

With hope and valor

you fought for freedom

without fear and reservation

you shed tears and blood

to the end...

Committed to defend

your country---your home

you fought decisively

struggled hard to win

victory...with so much pain

sacrifice and suffering...

In the service to humanity

you left us a legacy

to cherish and to uphold

that love for one's country

is worth-dying for!

Gone, but not forgotten

yet honored and remembered

today, yesterday, and forever

you the unsung heroes

the freedom lovers and fighters

the peacemakers and keepers

you will always be

our ideal and inspiration

for a better life-world

where there's love

and unity and peace

and brotherhood among humankind!

(c) 2011 by chris a. quilpa

*Published in The Dry Dock, NMC San Diego, CA (Poem was originally entitled "In Memoriam," May 22, 1987); Sandpointer, NSPS, Seattle, WA(May 24, 1991); The Courier, NMC Portsmouth, VA (May 1995); Philippine News, San Francisco, CA (April6-12, 1994); The Dry Dock, NMC San Diego, CA (May 27, 1994); The Filipino Chronicle, Virginia Beach, VA (May 1997); poetry.com (2004); iluko.com (9/11/2005); and Suffolk News-Herald, Suffolk, VA (May 22, 2008).