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A Veterans Day Tribute . . .

11/10/2021

34 Comments

 
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In the United States, we remember our veterans today, those men and women who risked everything for our freedom. Most of us know them as family, as neighbors, as colleagues in the workplace. We've probably only rarely spoken with them about their service, because few veterans will share their experience. How can they, if there is no common ground?

Before I retired, I worked at a college in southern California. Because of its proximity to the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, many returning Marines enrolled in the college. I supervised the Veteran's Center and got to know them well. That experience remains a highlight of my lengthy higher education career. The manifest courage of these young men and women, both in the field and on campus, was extraordinary. Many returned with visible injuries, but all suffered the invisible PTSD. 

Thank you to all who have served, to all who dared to dream of freedom. God Bless You All.

Below is my tribute poem, a response to a prompt by Colleen Chesebro. She asked that poets write a butterfly cinquain (2-4-6-8-2-8-6-4-2) and include a color, one perhaps, that readers could taste.  

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I close with this brief and powerful Sound of Silence. Please join me in honoring our vets.
34 Comments
Joan Hall link
11/11/2021 04:48:58

A time to honor those who have served. Very moving tribute, Gwen.

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Gwen Plano
11/11/2021 05:03:11

Thank you, Joan. I wish we honored our vets every day. They've given so much. 💗

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Staci Troilo link
11/11/2021 05:13:47

Oh, Gwen. That's so powerful. Thanks for sharing.

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Gwen Plano
11/11/2021 05:22:23

Thank you, Staci, much appreciated. 💗

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Elizabeth Gauffreau link
11/11/2021 06:03:58

Thank you for this moving tribute to those who serve and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

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Gwen Plano
11/11/2021 06:23:07

Thank you, Liz. Blessings to you and yours. 💗

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CS Boyack
11/11/2021 06:19:04

Wonderful tribute.

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Gwen Plano
11/11/2021 06:24:13

Thank you very much, Craig.

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Jan Sikes
11/11/2021 07:07:41

A beautiful tribute, Gwen. I have goosebumps.

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Gwen Plano
11/11/2021 07:54:04

Thanks so much, Jan. 🤗

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Marcia Meara link
11/11/2021 07:34:59

Thank you for a beautiful tribute, Joan. I'll share it with my husband tonight. It will really mean a lot to him. 💖

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Gwen Plano
11/11/2021 07:52:21

Thank you so much, Marcia. I've a bigger smile because of your typo. I hope hubby likes the reflection. 💗

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Marcia Meara link
11/11/2021 07:35:51

I am SO sorry I my fingers typed "Joan" while my mind was thinking "Gwen." Please feel free to correct that typo!! Doh.

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Gwen Plano
11/11/2021 07:53:25

😍 I've done this same thing. What's with our fingers at times? Big hugs...

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Wildchild47
11/11/2021 08:05:10

A very fitting and powerfully evocative poem - and it just transcends the horrors and traumas, by the turn at the end - the moon's light - a small victory of Hope and a prayer flag in its own way ....

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Gwen Plano
11/11/2021 08:18:39

Thank you very much for your thoughtful comment. 😊

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john howell link
11/11/2021 08:07:18

A beautiful tribute, Gwen. Thanks to Larry for his service

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Gwen Plano
11/11/2021 08:20:38

Thank you, John. I'll share your thanks with Larry. All the best...

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Pat Garcia link
11/11/2021 09:11:25

Hi,
This touches me greatly. I didn't go to Viet Nam or the last war in Afghanistan, but I took my duty seriously. Thank you, my dear for expressing my feelings.
Shalom aleichem

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Gwen Plano
11/11/2021 09:35:13

Thank you, dear Pat. Thank you very much for your service. Your commitment comes through in your beautiful/powerful writing. You inspire me, my friend. Shalom.

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Yvette M Calleiro link
11/11/2021 09:37:07

Your poem gave me the feels, Gwen. My dad served in the US Army for 25 years. He was blessed to have never had to experience war (though he volunteered for Vietnam and wasn't chosen and he was put on reserve for the Gulf War but never got the call). I'm grateful he was spared those experiences.

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Gwen Plano
11/11/2021 12:18:58

How fortunate he was spared, Yvette. Thank you for sharing so kindly. 💗

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D.L. Finn
11/11/2021 10:38:53

What a moving poem and post, Gwen. Yes, look for that moonlight in prayer. Xo

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Gwen Plano
11/11/2021 12:19:36

Thank you, Denise. Much appreciated. 💗

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Jacquie Biggar
11/11/2021 21:44:38

Your words brought tears, Gwen. Hope must feel elusive in the field, but for many, that's all they've got <3

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Gwen Plano
11/12/2021 03:40:03

So true, Jacquie, for many of our young men and women in the field, that's all they've got. 💗

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Elizabeth link
11/12/2021 06:50:26

This is so respectful and beautiful, Gwen!

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Gwen Plano
11/12/2021 08:06:58

Thank you so much, Elizabeth. 😊

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Colleen link
11/14/2021 09:18:07

Gwen, this was an apt and moving piece of poetry. Thank you for honoring our veterans. <3

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Gwen Plano
11/16/2021 05:20:52

Thank you, Colleen. 😊

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D. Avery link
11/15/2021 07:06:47

That sky that holds terrors as well as a moon got me. This is beautifully written but what a beautiful thing if it didn't need to be written.

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Gwen Plano
11/16/2021 05:23:30

So, so true, D. If only it didn't need to be written. Thank you for visiting and commenting. 😊

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Diana Peach link
11/16/2021 09:31:41

Wow, Gwen, your poem got me all choked up. It's beautiful. A lovely tribute to the men and women of our armed services.

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Jill Weatherholt link
11/16/2021 11:07:05

You were the perfect person to supervise the Veteran's Center, Gwen. Thank you for this beautiful tribute.

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Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


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