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Agent Orange in Vietnam
I lost my best friend today I cant believe its true,
Or did I really lose him when Vietnam was through.
It has been so many years,
That I watched him board that plane,
Never knowing why back then
That it would never be the same.
The government lied to us,
As they have to all mankind
And sprayed that dirty stuff around
To kill foliage on the ground.
The thing they didnt tell us
Is how it would affect
The heroes that came home from there
And how it would react.
Many many years later
We face this dirty demon,
That lay dormant in the body
Till the illnesses come a-screaming.
It is not right, it is unfair
To have their lives cut short, because of Agent Orange they sprayed
And covered the reports.
Now its time to take our stand,
Make other people aware
It isnt that we lost them today,
We lost them over there.
It is a terrible thing
That our Heros had to go through
The fighting in a foreign land
To keep it away from me and you.
Just remember as you read this,
They stole my love from me,
Because of Agent Orange they sprayed
To kill those lousy trees.
I lost my best friend today, I cant believe its true,
Or did I really loose him when Vietnam was through
~(c)Linda Berry~
Bernie & Linda's Song
Paradise by the Dash board lights
By: Meatloaf
No More
I use to be the princess that was put upon a throne,
But now it is the other way and all of that is gone.
I miss the cuddling at night and the phone calls from his work,
The eye to eye contact, now Im on alert
Go here Go there not a minute is to waste
In and out and up and down,
Emotions on my face
I try hard not to show it
That Im tired and worn out,
Another day another time,
Ill have time to sit and pout.
The flowers used to come and the candy to my door
Those days forever gone now
and they will be no more.
Just to hear the words I love you and the nussle on my neck,
the chills that it would cause,
no more so what the heck?
Hes in a better place now,
Looking down on me and you,
Someday well meet again,
I know this to be true.
~(C) Linda Berry~
 A Good Friend's Farewell
Bernie, I know you are now in the Great Beyond or as you, Linda and myself would call "the Great Jukebox in the Sky". Well now that you and the Big Guy are buddies, tell him that I'm still down here and need his help. I've known you a little over three years, we laughed a lot, cried a little and shared our Nam experiences like life-long buddies. We've both shared our cancer struggles and helped each other. Your courage has given me renewed inspiration to fight my health problems more than ever. I wish that I could of spent more time together with you this past year, but as you know i've had additional adjustments to my life, that did not stop my prayers and thoughts for you and Linda. Your passing has saddened me deeply, I think about my other Nam friends over the last ten years that have died years before their time, due to agent orange or PTSD. Our government sent us over as "Brave young men", we left a part of ourselves over there, and came back, as our government would think of us,"as faceless numbers". Well Bernie, your past this now. You are still a Warrior, my Hero and Friend.
I love you Guy,
Ron
Mom
You're facing a challenge.
And there's probably
a part of you that wishes you could
run and hide......that is normal.
The unknown can be scary.
But I'd like to think that's why
you have people like me
who care about you and who know
that you're a lot stronger than you think!
I've always admired your courage
and the fact that you always come through
when the chips are down, and that's when it counts.
So it's okay if you have moments of doubt.
Just be assured
that I don't doubt you for a minute!
You've never been one to run from a challenge,
and you won't now.
And that's good,
'cause it's only when
you step out into the unknown
that you discover
YOU CAN FLY!
(Linda Lee Elrod)
I read this and just busted out laughing,
his humor was neverending.
Thank You Karen!
My name is Karen Kaczmarek, Bernie Berry was my
friend.
I have a cute story to tell about my friend. One day I
was driving Bernie to radition, and we were in a hurry
and of course I'm yelling some unkind words to the
other drivers when all of a sudden Bernie says to me,
KAREN!! and very seriously says to me you need to go
to counseling with me, I looked a little perplexed,
and he says to me with that smile of his, you have
road rage worse than me.
One thing that I appreciated in getting to know Bernie
was no matter how sick he was on any given day he
always took the time to cheer others up. Another fact
or something I observed was the impact he made on
peoples lives, family and friends. I want to say it
was a privilege and an honor to have known Bernie and
he will remain in my heart forever as a good friend
with a big heart. I know he is up there having a great
time with all his other Nam buddies, who like Bernie
left this world to soon.
OK Jackie this is a card that you and ginger and your Mom gave to my parents after your mom's Mom passed away. I thought you may want to add it onto the beautiful sight your creating. You are awesome by the way. That sight will touch so many peoples hearts Jackie. I am proud of what you have done. I love you. Love you Angie
"Thanks"
Is Not Enough
THOUGHTS FROM THE WRITINGS OF EMILY MATTHEWS
When someone reaches out to help us through when times are tough,
It does so much to give us hope and brighten up our day, And through our thanks is genuine, it is never quite enough,
Compared to all the happiness their kindness brings our way.
"Thanks" is not enough-
when someone cares
the way you care-
To tell you
so you really understand
How much it means to have
the warm encouragement
you share,
To know you're always there
to lend a hand.
"Thanks" is only part
of all the heartfelt gratitude
These special wishes
offer you today,
It's one of many thank-you's
for your caring attitude,
For every thoughtful thing
you do and say.....
"Thanks" is just a portion
of a deep appreciation
For sharing so much goodness
from your heart,
Your kindnesses
are such a source of joy and inspiration.
That "Thanks" is not enough-
it's just a start.
Love, Linda, Jackie, and Ginger
COLORGUARD -a day for my friends
The banners are flying , the band is in place .
Along the street the crowd's smiling a trace,
and the sun is shining, but not on his face.
Police cars, fire trucks, clowns all in line,
balloons in the air in hopes of a good time.
Given a number, the groups all await,
the blast of the sirens,the opening of the gates!
Then the call (Fall In!!!), at attention we stand
old uniforms and new, don't we look grand?
The uniforms we wore, when we fought for this land!
Old Glory, the red white and blue, stands tall on it's pole,
as I remember you brothers, in a cage, or in a rat infested hole.
In rank and in file as we march down the street,
People applaud, an old vet salutes, ain't FREEDOM sweet?
Teenagers cry, known only by old scrapbooks torn apart,
and held by their mothers, possessing a flag and a purple heart.
People remember the VietNam war it's true,
But I remember the warrior who gave his ALL for you.
Today's a grand day but my heart sheds a tear,
for the family of the VETERAN who couldn't be here.
Brother of mine I can hear you call,
even though your name's etched on the wall.
You'd be here if you could, if your country would but try,
instead of denying something some twenty years by.
There are two thousand five hundred reasons why I march today,
Two thousand five hundred reasons why I pray.
I wear a uniform not unlike the one you wore,
when last I saw you, during the war.
Loved ones surround me as I awake in a cold sweat,
or when I rage uncontrollably, not knowing why they fret.
Around me my friends are dying, by an assassin they're hexed.
Agent Orange like a time bomb ticks away, will I be next?
After years of counseling, mostly giving my all,
I'm in control of my life, I now stand tall?
Thoughts invade me, will my own son get the call?
A call from a country who apathetically cares,
a call from a country, do they really dare?
to send sons into battle, then deny them their rights.
to send sons into battle, tell them to kill and to fight?
To come home to loved ones who don't understand,
or who have plotted against them, for that right they fought and died in that land.
This is the reason you died my brother, so they'd have the right,
This is the reason I march my brother, either day or night.
written July 1988
~Robert A. Judd~
Missing
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How many men in the jungle
Pray every night to come home
How they suffer in silence
Lonely and cold to the bone
Lonely and cold to the bone
How many families suffer
Waiting for word of their love
How long will it take Uncle Sammy
To get off his ass and get em home
Get off his ass and get em home
Oh they say theyve tried all there is to try
But its a lie
And like the war its politicized
Its a crime
How can they forsake their warriors
Like theyve never done before
How can they forget the soldiers
Lost in the unwanted war
Lost in the unwanted war
War
©Robert Schweitzer
circa 1984 - 1985
I want to thank Mr. Schweitzer for allowing
me the honor of using his work on this site.
Welcome Home Mr. Schweitzer!
Follow the link for more from Mr. Schweitzer
http://www.iwvpa.net/schweitzerr/index.htm |
"They Stood As Brothers"
With sadness of heart and tears in my eyes
I think of the soldiers who have fought and died
I remember each one with a thankful heart
Recalling how each one did his part.
They stood as brothers side-by-side
Defending Old Glory's honor and pride
Crawling around in the desert sand
Lending each other a helping hand.
Watching conrades fall one by one
Watching until the war was won
Hurting, hurting deep inside
They still fought on side-by-side.
Another soldier called to his eternal home
Never again on this earth to roam
Conrades kneeling beside his grave
Who will never forget why his life he gave.
Freedoms aren't free in life you see
Many a soldier's have died for you and me
To their memory lets be true
Everytime we look at the red,white and blue.
To the soldiers and veterans still alive
Lets show them our patriotic pride
Give them a hug and thank you too
And don't forget to tell them...God bless you.
Author: Gloria J. Shuttleworth
Copyright 2003
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