Author's Note:
Memorial Day is a time for our nation to remember
that freedom isn't free, that the liberties
we enjoy and often take for granted were paid for in
battles around the world. This poem is a tribute to
the
men and women of the Armed Forces who paid the
ultimate price for our liberty, and a challenge to
all
Americans to make the most of so precious a gift.
The incident described is based on an actual visit I
made to the Vietnam memorial wall, and the feelings
I experienced seeing my name etched in the dark
stone. The conclusion, like the experience, is
altogether sincere.
