Author's Note: The tree in this poem still stands in Waterloo, New York State, as do a lot of similar scythe trees around America, a living tribute to common men who put aside everyday life to fight for freedom. A portion of the oak tree in which Marengo farmer Richard Thornton Shelley placed his scythe before leaving for the Civil War in 1862 is displayed. The family did not remove the scythe, and when Shelley returned from war in 1865, the crotch of the tree had grown around it. The tree-and the scythe-remained on the family farm north of Marengo for 133 years until the June 1998 windstorm blew it over. The family has loaned this portion of it to a museum in New York State.

About Author... Faye Sizemore makes her home in the beautiful foothills of South Carolina with Grant, the love of her life, as well as three dogs, two cats, two parakeets and four nanny goats. Grant is a Vietnam Veteran having served with the US Marines in 1968-69 and is, of course, Faye's muse. Faye is deeply interested in Veterans' Affairs and Veterans' Causes. She is very proud of Grant and her poetry is an off-shoot of that pride.

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