"Lil' Sis" (A Poetry Tale From a Marine's Sibling Side)

No one really knows the bond we share.

No one ever will; But…I don’t care.

I learn more about it every day.

Why did you have to go away?

You were supposed to be there for me!

Now…you are only in my memory.

I need my big brother to talk to again.

You are My Big Brother and my great friend.

We used to talk until late into the night.

We used to joke a lot…and we used to fight.

We would talk about things that only we would understand.

The way only someone that is close in your family can.

Now…I sit here all alone.

Knowing that my brother is gone.

This girl who sat by me in school today,

Didn’t have one good thing to say,

About her brother…who was making her upset.

If something happened to him…Then…she would be full of regret!

How did she think I felt….when she didn’t know what she had.

Her brother was still alive; She should have been glad!

People want you to forget and move on.

But…They are all wrong!

My brother was important to me.

I’m sorry if that is too hard to see.

But…that doesn’t mean I have to change just for you.

You have no idea what I have been through.

Try to understand what a little sister might be feeling.

Don’t feel sorry for me; Just know that I’m still healing.

I would do the same thing for you.

If you know me…then…you would know that’s true.

My big brother went off to war.

I believed in him…and what he was fighting for.

But I never believed I wouldn’t see him anymore.

Not until my family got a knock on the door.

From that day on…things just aren’t the same.

I’ve had to cope with the loss, and deal with the pain.

I used to write to my brother…and pray for him all the time!

I have told God that this is not what I had in mind.

What happened? I still can’t believe…

How can you take my brother away, and leave me to now grieve?

It helps me to know,

That he died a Hero!

But, it does not surprise me in any way.

To find out he helped save many Marines that day.

Because he had been a Hero many times for me.

It’s just that now, other people had the chance to see.

Now, I stand for him and what he did.

I surprised many people from how I spoke out, as a kid. (*)

And I promise you…it won’t be the end.

I will keep standing for him…until I see him again.

So, if you think my brother made a statement on that fateful March day…

Just sit back and watch what his little sister has to say!

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(*) At a young age, my daughter led the charge, against comments made by our big city newspaper (The Houston Chronicle). They had added bias political comments during an article that was supposed to be only about our Fallen Marine. She…along with a very politically astute local radio talk show host in town…(Dan Patrick-AM700 KSEV "The Voice of Texas")...made sure that an apology came from that newspaper. Approx. 16-17 days after the article had been printed…an apology came to my daughter from the president of the newspaper company (Jack Sweeney) himself…Well Done, Marine Sister! Thank You for going to guns for your brother (Leroy Sandoval, Jr.)…I know, that I know, that he smiles down on you from heaven (on all occasions)…and I know, that he knew already, that you don’t mess with his sister! Thank You to the local radio talk show host …and his radio station…that forged ahead against the powerful press machine…without balking…one iota…to rally about 10,000 (plus) boycotted subscribers behind a Lil’ Sis…who stood for what was right!

Dedicated to my daughter. Words can not express how much your Dad cares about everything you have been through. Love, Dad. Poem written on March 14, 2006.

This poem goes out to all the family siblings that have to deal with the death or injury of their Armed Forces Service Member. They have to sit in quiet support while their sibling fights a war. Then…if the worse should happen…they have to experience a terrible and permanent loss…should that family member be struck down.

God Bless the Son, Daughter, Brother, and Sister…who serve in our Armed Forces!

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