The Tears That Won't...: A Memorial Day Tribute.

The Tears That Won't...


I was thinking about tears today, and of the many slides of life where they appear, mostly unbidden....

• The tears of joy, expressed by a proud parent when a child is born...
• The tears of pleasure when reading a heartfelt book...
• The tears of soulful emotion when listening to a Beethoven Piano Concerto...
• The tears of anger when deceived by a loved one...
• The tears of frustration when challenged beyond one's competence...
• The tears of sorrow when losing a loved one...
• The tears of love so sweetly held...

And then there are the tears that won't....

Tears that I can never shed for the brave young men and women who have given their all for comrades and country...They deserve much more than tears...much more.

Let the tears of sorrow flow for them from their families...

Let us honor them with a warriors wish:

" The true warrior does not wish to lead,
Nor does he wish to follow....He only wishes to place himself where he is needed most."

We must thank God for men and women such as these...

Here is a tribute to our fallen by USMC Lt. Colonel Kurt Wheeler:

" To begin to understand the full measure of the sacrifice we are here to honor, we must pause to appreciate our own blessings. Just for a moment, stop your mind from racing and soak in this moment in time. Breath in the fresh country air, feel the gentle breeze on your face, look at the green trees, think about the people around you, the relationships you cherish, all the things that make life so dear. Those we honor today will never enjoy any of these blessings again. "

Lt. Colonel Kurt Wheeler, United States Marine Corps, Retired -Memorial Day Address – New Woodstock, NY, 28 May 2007.

How can I shed tears for such as these, when my heart is bursting with pride while my soul is being humbled by their sacrifice.

I have many tears that won't....