"No Welcome Home Here" (A Poem Dedicated to the "Fallen")
70MAY THIS SERVE AS A BIG WELCOME HOME TO ALL...EVEN THE ONES WHO COULD NOT JOIN IN...
"No Welcome Home Here"
There'll be no "Welcome Home" here...
No "Welcome Home" signs...No Great Big Cheer!
There'll be no Warm Homecoming...looked at with anticipation...
No One's coming back Home here...After Defending a Nation!
I am Happy for those who Return...Don't get me wrong...
But this is not an experience to which we belong.
The Camera shots...and the News of the Day...
Show the Happy Families...With Each Face They Portray.
A Mom cries herself to sleep...
A Sister lies on the tile floor to weep.
A Dad screams out from the Back Yard...
No Welcome Home here...It's real sad...so hard.
One day...a call from him out in the field...via satellite phone...
The next...we're wishing we didn't ever let him leave Home.
A C.A.C.O. comes to knock on your door...
And now your family will never be like it was before.
There is great joy for those that return...I am not completely that jealous...
But..I will let you know about our Marine...Better believe...I'll be over-zealous.
I Honor him...I Honor them...I Honor ALL Who Gave ALL...ALL Gave Some...
There's a Marine in Dress Blue at the door..."Oh God, NO!"...My brain goes numb!
The Moment I learned You Gave ALL...Shock sets in...I see it in slow motion still...
I would love to change what happened next to us ALL...Though I doubt...I ever will.
I Play it ALL Over and Over Again inside my Mind...
Honoring You...I Honor ALL that Served...ALL the time.
But...that still doesn't ever take the fact away...
That you never did come back Home to us to stay.
I think of You when I see ALL the Smiles for those that Return Home from War...
I know You Smile for ALL them...Especially, ALL your Buddies in the Marine Corp.
There'll be no "Welcome Home" here...Sorrowfully...We have ALL finally learned...
Oh...But What a Great Homecoming it would have been...If You Had Only Returned !
Copyright © 2009 All Rights Reserved
I Would Like to Extend the Greatest of Thanks and Respect to ALL the Fallen...And Wounded...For What You Have Done For Our Country...For ALL Time!
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beautiful poem....and a very sad truth. my heart too is with the casualties of war (both soldier and civilian); thank you for sharing this emotional and powerful piece!
Thanks for a poignant reminder Manly. Well done. CC
Georgiakevin: Thank you...Humbly, I will never forget the sacrifice that others have made for our freedom...Exactly!
myownworld: War is hell...nothing good comes from it. It costs us everything...yet who can afford to "stand down"...in a troubled world! I appreciate what you had to say on this.
ralwus: You know that I pray for the well-being of a certain Marine of yours! Thank you for your comment.
MPM - Nice to know that you are one of my neighbors. Gus
Gus the Redneck: Right back atcha'...my friend! MPM
Beautifully written. I was on the internet and saw the picture of the little girl who could not let go of her Daddy going off to war. It was touching. The reminder that these men and women are doing something that they were called to do, not for fame or glory but for the honor of serving their country. As a former military girl...I salute you all!
tuacadoll: I salute them with you...Really great comment...can not think of anything to add to what you just said (wrote). I agree totally with what you said (wrote). You're a former military girl...so you know that the One person who serves in the military...carries a whole families hopes and dreams off with them...where ever they go! Thank you for reading this poem about the Ones who don't come home.
I can't help but wonder if anything can be worth losing your child. No matter how great the cause it all seems so pointless when you think of all the lives lost.
A moving poem well written!
Manly, my friend...I share your loss of Leroy, and all the other fine men and women that put it all on the line for duty, honor, and country...
No, there is no welcome home for those that gave their all, but there is a place in the hearts of those they care about..a place where they will always be welcome, and remembered....Thank you for this, and I still have tears that won't...Larry
Laura du Toit: I understand what you say about nothing is worth losing a child over...I agree. I am reminded of a young man who sat across from his mother and I (I'm his Step-Dad)...and told us that he would be a Marine (after 9-11 events...he wanted to make a differance...and he did!) Period. When a Man tells you he's going to do something and why...you just support him...every way you know how. Our Marine knew what he wanted to do... He believed in what he was doing...and He left a mighty big impression behind him as he did. So now...we always honor what he stood for. Believe me though...He is greatly missed...every minute. There is no joy in these thoughts. But, there is a lot of pride. I say this things humbly...only for a little perspective of a Marine family who has lost someone. Ultimately...I just want everyone to know...what kind of a Man...our Brave Marine was! Thanks for the comment view you shared.
maven101: As a "Once a Marine...Always a Marine"...I know you understand. Larry...our Leroy was a fine young man that went right into the heat of the conflict immediately...and he did put it all on the line...and he did have a tremendous sense of duty, and honor when he did. You military folks get that...we military families just continue to remind ourselves what our loved ones already knew and believed so strong. I know you have a heart that won't ever forget. Imagine then...the heart of this step-dad, my friend! Thank you as always...for your comments.
What wonderful writing. It's beautiful!
Wonderful poem, manly !! Really great. I loved it. It's a very manly poem !! cheers !!
Godslittlechild: Thank you for what you said...Glad you liked it.
tantrum: Really nice of you to see...I mean say...(The eye made me slip)...It is a "Manly" poem for sure...'cause it is about our Brave Marine. In my book...you can't get any more "Manly" than our Brave Marine! "OOOHRAH" (The Marine Corp Battle Cry) Cheers, my friend...MPM
This is a great hub and piece manly. I salute every man and woman that serves our country to protect our freedoms and fights in other countries to keep our enemies at bay. Without these brave men and women where would we be? Thank you for sharing this post and my prayers and blessings to you and your family with your loss.
Manly, thank you for writing. So many lives lost around the world. Most often to the most bravest of individuals. Well done.
bryguy1: Well...appreciate what you had to say in your comment. I agree totally with it. Thank you for considering my family in your prayers and thoughts of blessings. It is a loss to my family for our Brave Marine...not returning home...If this poem could do one thing (besides Honor my Step-Son...ALL the Fallen...and ALL the Wounded...who are forever changed in this lifetime)...It would be to show the perspective of a Family of a Fallen American Serviceman. Thank you for reading my Hub about "No Welcome Home Here"!
Thanks Am I Dead...It is so true that we often lose the most Bravest of individuals during War...They are often...always..the first to volunteer and do what has to be done! Every loss of life is a "high-price" for us all to have to endure...for us not getting along better across the planet! (And God Bless the ones that have to endure a life time of serious injury from War!) Appreciate your comment and for reading this.
This brought chills over me, how often we forget....
dori
Dear fortunerep...This was (and still is)a very chilling reminder and a reality for my family and I. Everyone has things happen to them in their lives...but what I come away with during this whole "No Welcome Home" for our Marine...is that I don't want anyone to forget what these young ones have done for us! I am constantly reminded of this...and we still visit with many Veterans that did make it home... and who are also always reminded of the ones that did not make it home. So...Thank You Very Much...for your comment, dori... and for us ALL: "May We Never Forget". Humbly, MPM
As the tears bleed out of my eyes I am painfully reminded of how much this war has cost us all. I feel for you in your loss and honor your son that gave all to this war. Thank you for sharing this poem of sorrow and woe. And I will never forget any of our fallen military heroes. I have lost friends here and I can only understand one tenth of your feeling.
Well Wesley...I truly would not want to add one iota to the grief which you have already been subjected to. It saddens me to no end...that you as a "young one" (what I call the ones who go into action to handle our confrontations for us. All of you are so young...with a whole life ahead of you!) has had to witness so much death...and learned what it is like to lose so many friends. I wish I had the right words to help you balance the grief that you must feel. Just know that this Fallen Marine Step-dad supports what you are doing 100% and I can speak for my family...and all Marine families...and all your Army ones as well. There are people who support you...and will always...for what you are doing. God is watching over you. Walk in strength, my friend. Remember the Fallen. Support Our Troops. "This We'll Defend"...and even a "Semper Fi" from a Marine Family. Thank you for serving us, Wesley Cox. I am personally proud of your service to us. Respectfully, MPM.
Thank you, that means a lot to me MPM. I've written a story I have yet to publish because I am still waiting on approval from my mother and I would like to let you know when I publish it. It is a story of loss right along the lines with which you have written this poem.
WesleyCox: Please, do let me know when you publish it...I would definitely like to read it!
Your poem was very beautifully written. Thank you and God Bless
Sarra Garrett: Thank You. Glad you liked it. Appreciate your comment and for reading this one.
wonderfully written, I love the veterans and the military who served and put their body in line just to serve their country, and you must remember BUBBA from the movie Forrest Gump who died in the Vietnam war, when he was about to die he said like " I want to go home", and I cried,
manly you are a gift to all of us and the message fo this poem is just so great,
Thanks, Maita
prettydarkhorse: Veterans will be grateful to hear that you appreciate them putting their bodies on the line in service to us all. What you say...about Bubba...makes me hurt...as well...because...I think of the thousands and thousands that have said that in real life...in the same predicament. AAAGGGGHHH...I think...What if we step-son said that? My step-son's last words were of concern for his Marine Buddies..."Did everyone make it alright?"...has been passed down to us...of what he said....at the last. I'd be crying while writing this except...I've already done...my hurt for his sacrifice...earlier today. It is a hard thing for an older person to know that a young one put his body on the line...for you, family, friends...and everyone else. This Poem is in honor of those who's names drift off slowly into history...Who Gave Us Their ALL! Thank you, Leroy! PDH...Thank you for visiting this poem...I always enjoy your comments...you know. This One is about the Ones that have "No Welcome Home"...God Bless Them All...And Thank God for Our Marine...and Son. Humlest Regards, MPM
Thank you for this. I have shared it with my children so they can appreciate the sacrifices others make for us to be able to live in freedom and safety.
annmeadows: I thank you for sharing this with your children...and I appreciate you reading and commenting on it. It is wonderful of you to pass on the knowledge that many have sacrificed for all that we have...in our country! Happy Fourth of July to you...and your family!
Sincere Regards, MPM
That video you led into the poem with is heart wrenching for me. And the poem is too! My heart and soul reaches outward. My grandpa served at the Argonne Forest & endured mustard gas, I have uncles who served in Europe in the big war (II, my dad served on the Chosin Reservoir in Korea in unbearable cold weather, my room mates served in Vietnam telling stories, both funny & full of terror, while waking up at night in cold sweats, and some employees working for me served in the Gulf War, then came back to make a life for themselves. Though I chose not to serve during time of peace, if that exists, today, with maturity, their realities are closer to my heart. And, those cousins, uncles, classmates, and friends who didn't return I know welcomed those not returning today. Semper Fi!
tsmog: This one always gets to me...as it reminds me of the sacrifice that so many families have gone through...and not just ours. Semper Fi...right back at'cha...BTW. Sounds like you have been surrounded by the Military throughout your life. With that kind of mindset...it is easier to say things from the aspect of them that have served. A perspective that is usually missing on the field of many debates. They have a brand of knowledge of freedom that comes from serving their country...that we civilians will never know! Thank you for your comment on this one, my friend. Here's to ALL the ones that had "No Welcome Home" and served us so gallantly. OOOHRAH...and Sincere Thanks to ALL! Best Regards, MPM
Georgiakevin 2 years ago
Beautifully written. Never forget the sacrifice others have made for our freedoms, never forget