Death Is
Heaven Is Paradise
Hell Is Eternal
Tears From The Wall
At First There Was No Place For Us To Go
Until Someone Put Up That Black Granite Wall
Now Everyday And Night
My Brothers And My Sisters Wait To See The Many People
From Places Afar File In Front Of This Wall
Many Stopping Briefly And Many For Hours
And Some That Come On A Regular Basis
It Was Hard At First Not That It's Gotten Any Easier
It Seems That Many Of The Attitudes Towards That War That We Were Involved In Have Changed
I Can Only Pray That The Ones On The Other Side Have Learned Something
And More Walls As This One Needn't Be Built
Several Members Of My Unit
Many That I Did Not Recognize
Have Called Me To The Wall By Touching My Name That Is Engraved Upon It
The Tears Aren't Necessary But Are Hard Even For Me To Hold Back
Don't Feel Guilty For Not Being With Me My Brothers
This Was My Destiny As It Is Yours To Be On That Side Of The Wall
Touch The Wall My Brothers So That We Can Share In The Memories That We Had
I Have Learned To Put The Bad Memories Aside
I Remember Only The Pleasant Times That We Had Together
Tell Our Other Brothers Out There To Come And Visit Me
Not To Say Good Bye But To Say Hello
And To Be Together Again
Even If Only For A Short Time
To Ease That Pain Of Loss That We All Share
Today An Irresistible And Loving Call Comes From The Wall
As I Approach I Can See An Elderly Lady
As I Get Closer I Recognize Her
It's Momma!
As Much As I Have Looked Forward To This Day
I Have Also Regretted It Because I Didn't Know What Reaction I Would Have
Next To Her I Suddenly See My Wife
I Immediately Think How Hard It Must Have Been For Her To Come To This Place
My Mind Floods With The Pleasant Memories Of 30 Years Past
There's A Young Man In A Military Uniform Standing With His Arm Around Her
My God! It Has To Be My Son
Look At Him Trying To Be The Man Without A Tear In His Eye
I Yearn To Tell Him How Proud I Am Seeing Him
He Is Standing Tall Straight And Proud In His Uniform
Momma Comes Closer And Touches The Wall
I Feel The Soft And Gentle Touch I Had Not Felt In So Many Years
Dad Has Crossed To This Side Of The Wall And Through Our Touch
I Try To Convey To Her That Dad Is Doing Fine
He Is No Longer Suffering Or Feeling Pain
I See My Wife's Courage Building As She Sees Momma Touch The Wall
She Approaches And Lays Her Hand On My Waiting Hand
All The Emotions And Feelings And Memories Of Three Decades Past
Flash Between Our Touch And I Tell Her That It's All Right
Carry On With Your Life And Don't Worry About Me
I Can See As I Look Into Her Eyes That She Hears And Understands Me
A Big Burden Has Been Lifted From Her
I Watch As They Lay Flowers And Other Memories Of My Past
My Lucky Charm That Was Taken From Me And Sent To Her By My Commanding Officer
A Tattered And Worn Teddy Bear
That I Can Barely Remember Having As I Grew Up As A Child
And Several Medals That I Had Earned And Were Presented To My Wife
One Of Them Is The Combat Infantry Badge That I Am Very Proud Of
I Notice That My Son Is Also Wearing This Medal
I Had Earned Mine In The Jungles Of Vietnam
He Had Probably Earned his In The Desert Of Iraq
I Can Tell That They Are Preparing To Leave
I Try To Take A Mental Picture Of Them Together
Because I Don't Know When I Will See Them Again
I Wouldn't Blame Them If They Were Not No Return
I Can Only Thank Them That I Was Not Forgotten
My Wife And Momma Near The Wall For One Final Touch
So Many Years Of Indecision Fear And Sorrow Are Let Go
As They Turn To Leave
I Feel My Tears
That Had Not Flowed For So Many Years
Form As if Dew Drops On The Other Side Of The Wall
They Slowly Move Away With Only A Glance Over Their Shoulder
My Son Suddenly Stops And Slowly Returns
He Stands Straight And Proud In Front Of Me And Snaps A Salute
Something Makes Him Move To The Wall
He Puts His Hand Upon The Wall
He Touches My Tears That Had Formed On The Face Of The Wall
I Can Tell That He Sense My Presence There
And The Pride And The Love That I Have For Him
He Falls To His Knees And The Tears Flow from His Eyes
I Try My Best To Reassure Him That It's All Right
The Tears Do Not Make Him Any Less Of A Man
As He Moves Back Wiping The Tears From His Eyes He Silently Mouths
God Bless You Dad
God Bless YOU Son
We Will Meet Someday But Meanwhile Go On Your Way
There Is No Hurry
There Is No Hurry At All
As I See Them Walk Off In The Distance
I Yell Out To Them And Everyone There Today As Loud As I Can
Thanks For Remembering And As Others On This Side Of The Wall Join In
I Notice That The US Flag That So Proudly Flies In Front Of Us Everyday
Is Flapping And Standing Proudly Straight Out In The Wind Today
"Thank You All For Remembering"
For He Today
That Sheds His Blood With Me
Shall Be My Brother
Author Unknown
Rick's Fears
It Has Been Alot Of Years Since My Tour Of Duty In Vietnam
It Feels As If It Were Only Yesterday
I Have Never Been Able To Force Myself To Go And Visit "The Wall"
And I Probably Will Never Go There
I Am Afraid That I Will Break Down
That I Will Show All Of The Emotions That I Have Kept Deep Inside Of Me
Quietly Hidden Deep Inside Of Me For All Of These Years
I Am Afraid That I Will Hear And Feel The Spirits Of All The Men And Women Inscribed On "The Wall"
I Am Afraid Of Standing In Front Of God And Country
And Letting My Tears Fall
I Am Afraid That In Spirit That They Will Hate Me
Because I Was Lucky Enough To Come Back Home Alive
Many Came Back And I Realize That A Misstep Here Or A Bullet There
That We Might Have Become Names Listed On "The Wall"
We Might Have Become A Name
That You Or Someone Else Stood And Read And Cried Over
I Gave Some And These Men And Women Gave Their All
They Deserve More Respect Than I Do
Their Blood Flowed For All Of Us
They Gave The Ultimate Sacrifice To Protect Our Freedom
I Cry For Them And Will Never Forget Them
Yet I Cannot Face Them
My Heart Is Filled With Compassion My Mind With Memories
My Soul Is Troubled With Fear
A Fear Far Greater Than Any That I Felt In Vietnam
Maybe Someday With Help From God
Maybe Someday
I Will Be Able To Face My Fears
Maybe I Will Be Able To Stand In Front Of "The Wall"
And Salute You
My Brothers And Sisters
And Let My Tears Freely Flow
CopyRight © 2000-
Rick "Irockblue" 8-17-2000
Rasky's VietNam Memorial
All Rights Reserved
The Final Inspection
The Soldier Stood And Faced His God
Which Must Always Come To Pass
He Hoped His Shoes Were Shining Bright
Just As Brightly As His Brass
"Step Forward Now Soldier
How Shall I Deal With You?
Have You Turned The Other Cheek?
To My Church Have You Been True?"
The Soldier Squared His Shoulders And Said
"No Lord I Guess I Ain't
Because Those Of Us Who Carry Guns Can't Always Be A Saint
I've Had To Work Most Sundays And At Times My Talk Was Rough
I've Had To Break Your Rules My Lord
Because The World Is Awfully Tough
But I Never Took A Thing That Wasn't Mine To Keep
Though I Worked A Lot Of Overtime When The Bills Got Just Too Steep
And I Never Passed A Cry For Help
Though At Times I Shook With Fear
And Sometimes God Forgive Me
I've Wept Unmanly Tears
I Know I Don't Deserve A Place Among The People Here
They Never Wanted Me Around Except To Calm Their Fears
If You've A Place For Me Here Lord It Needn't Be So Grand
I Never Expected Or Had Too Much But If You Don't I Will Understand"
There Was A Silence All Around The Throne Where The Saints Often Trod
The Soldier Waited Quietly For The Judgement Of His God
"Step Forward Now Soldier
You've Borne Your Burdens Well
Come Walk Peacefully On Heaven's Streets
You've Done Your Time In "Hell"
Author Unknown
Recommend Raskys Site To A Friend!
COPYRIGHT © 2000-
RASKY'S VIETNAM MEMORIAL
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
At First There Was No Place For Us To Go
Until Someone Put Up That Black Granite Wall
Now Everyday And Night
My Brothers And My Sisters Wait To See The Many People
From Places Afar File In Front Of This Wall
I Feel My Tears
That Had Not Flowed For So Many Years
Form As if Dew Drops On The Other Side Of The Wall
God Bless YOU Son
We Will Meet Someday But Meanwhile Go On Your Way
There Is No Hurry
There Is No Hurry At All
As I See Them Walk Off In The Distance
I Yell Out To Them And Everyone There Today As Loud As I Can
Thanks For Remembering And As Others On This Side Of The Wall Join In
I Notice That The US Flag That So Proudly Flies In Front Of Us Everyday
Is Flapping And Standing Proudly Straight Out In The Wind Today
"Thank You All For Remembering"
For He Today
That Sheds His Blood With Me
Shall Be My Brother
Author Unknown
It Has Been Alot Of Years Since My Tour Of Duty In Vietnam
It Feels As If It Were Only Yesterday
I Have Never Been Able To Force Myself To Go And Visit "The Wall"
And I Probably Will Never Go There
I Am Afraid That I Will Break Down
That I Will Show All Of The Emotions That I Have Kept Deep Inside Of Me
Quietly Hidden Deep Inside Of Me For All Of These Years
I Am Afraid That I Will Hear And Feel The Spirits Of All The Men And Women Inscribed On "The Wall"
I Am Afraid Of Standing In Front Of God And Country
And Letting My Tears Fall
I Am Afraid That In Spirit That They Will Hate Me
Because I Was Lucky Enough To Come Back Home Alive
Many Came Back And I Realize That A Misstep Here Or A Bullet There
That We Might Have Become Names Listed On "The Wall"
We Might Have Become A Name
That You Or Someone Else Stood And Read And Cried Over
I Gave Some And These Men And Women Gave Their All
They Deserve More Respect Than I Do
Their Blood Flowed For All Of Us
They Gave The Ultimate Sacrifice To Protect Our Freedom
I Cry For Them And Will Never Forget Them
Yet I Cannot Face Them
My Heart Is Filled With Compassion My Mind With Memories
My Soul Is Troubled With Fear
A Fear Far Greater Than Any That I Felt In Vietnam
Maybe Someday With Help From God
Maybe Someday
I Will Be Able To Face My Fears
Maybe I Will Be Able To Stand In Front Of "The Wall"
And Salute You
My Brothers And Sisters
And Let My Tears Freely Flow
CopyRight © 2000-
Rick "Irockblue" 8-17-2000
Rasky's VietNam Memorial
All Rights Reserved
The Final Inspection
The Soldier Stood And Faced His God
Which Must Always Come To Pass
He Hoped His Shoes Were Shining Bright
Just As Brightly As His Brass
"Step Forward Now Soldier
How Shall I Deal With You?
Have You Turned The Other Cheek?
To My Church Have You Been True?"
The Soldier Squared His Shoulders And Said
"No Lord I Guess I Ain't
Because Those Of Us Who Carry Guns Can't Always Be A Saint
I've Had To Work Most Sundays And At Times My Talk Was Rough
I've Had To Break Your Rules My Lord
Because The World Is Awfully Tough
But I Never Took A Thing That Wasn't Mine To Keep
Though I Worked A Lot Of Overtime When The Bills Got Just Too Steep
And I Never Passed A Cry For Help
Though At Times I Shook With Fear
And Sometimes God Forgive Me
I've Wept Unmanly Tears
I Know I Don't Deserve A Place Among The People Here
They Never Wanted Me Around Except To Calm Their Fears
If You've A Place For Me Here Lord It Needn't Be So Grand
I Never Expected Or Had Too Much But If You Don't I Will Understand"
There Was A Silence All Around The Throne Where The Saints Often Trod
The Soldier Waited Quietly For The Judgement Of His God
"Step Forward Now Soldier
You've Borne Your Burdens Well
Come Walk Peacefully On Heaven's Streets
You've Done Your Time In "Hell"
Author Unknown
Recommend Raskys Site To A Friend!
COPYRIGHT © 2000-
RASKY'S VIETNAM MEMORIAL
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Maybe Someday
I Will Be Able To Face My Fears
Maybe I Will Be Able To Stand In Front Of "The Wall"
And Salute You
My Brothers And Sisters
And Let My Tears Freely Flow
CopyRight © 2000-
Rick "Irockblue" 8-17-2000
Rasky's VietNam Memorial
All Rights Reserved
The Final Inspection
The Soldier Stood And Faced His God
Which Must Always Come To Pass
He Hoped His Shoes Were Shining Bright
Just As Brightly As His Brass
"Step Forward Now Soldier
How Shall I Deal With You?
Have You Turned The Other Cheek?
To My Church Have You Been True?"
The Soldier Squared His Shoulders And Said
"No Lord I Guess I Ain't
Because Those Of Us Who Carry Guns Can't Always Be A Saint
I've Had To Work Most Sundays And At Times My Talk Was Rough
I've Had To Break Your Rules My Lord
Because The World Is Awfully Tough
But I Never Took A Thing That Wasn't Mine To Keep
Though I Worked A Lot Of Overtime When The Bills Got Just Too Steep
And I Never Passed A Cry For Help
Though At Times I Shook With Fear
And Sometimes God Forgive Me
I've Wept Unmanly Tears
I Know I Don't Deserve A Place Among The People Here
They Never Wanted Me Around Except To Calm Their Fears
If You've A Place For Me Here Lord It Needn't Be So Grand
I Never Expected Or Had Too Much But If You Don't I Will Understand"
There Was A Silence All Around The Throne Where The Saints Often Trod
The Soldier Waited Quietly For The Judgement Of His God
"Step Forward Now Soldier
You've Borne Your Burdens Well
Come Walk Peacefully On Heaven's Streets
You've Done Your Time In "Hell"
Author Unknown
Recommend Raskys Site To A Friend!
COPYRIGHT © 2000-
RASKY'S VIETNAM MEMORIAL
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Rick "Irockblue" 8-17-2000
Rasky's VietNam Memorial
All Rights Reserved
The Soldier Stood And Faced His God
Which Must Always Come To Pass
He Hoped His Shoes Were Shining Bright
Just As Brightly As His Brass
"Step Forward Now Soldier
How Shall I Deal With You?
Have You Turned The Other Cheek?
To My Church Have You Been True?"
The Soldier Squared His Shoulders And Said
"No Lord I Guess I Ain't
Because Those Of Us Who Carry Guns Can't Always Be A Saint
I've Had To Work Most Sundays And At Times My Talk Was Rough
I've Had To Break Your Rules My Lord
Because The World Is Awfully Tough
But I Never Took A Thing That Wasn't Mine To Keep
Though I Worked A Lot Of Overtime When The Bills Got Just Too Steep
And I Never Passed A Cry For Help
Though At Times I Shook With Fear
And Sometimes God Forgive Me
I've Wept Unmanly Tears
I Know I Don't Deserve A Place Among The People Here
They Never Wanted Me Around Except To Calm Their Fears
If You've A Place For Me Here Lord It Needn't Be So Grand
I Never Expected Or Had Too Much But If You Don't I Will Understand"
There Was A Silence All Around The Throne Where The Saints Often Trod
The Soldier Waited Quietly For The Judgement Of His God
"Step Forward Now Soldier
You've Borne Your Burdens Well
Come Walk Peacefully On Heaven's Streets
You've Done Your Time In "Hell"
Author Unknown
Recommend Raskys Site To A Friend!
COPYRIGHT © 2000-
RASKY'S VIETNAM MEMORIAL
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
You've Borne Your Burdens Well
Come Walk Peacefully On Heaven's Streets
You've Done Your Time In "Hell"
Author Unknown
Recommend Raskys Site To A Friend!
RASKY'S VIETNAM MEMORIAL
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED