In honor of veterans

November 11 is Veterans Day, when we honor those who have served, both living and deceased. With approximately 15-16 million veterans in the United States, be sure to give thanks for their service, now and always. Following is a poem that local poet Sue Shaw wrote for the Veterans Day lunch group at the Penobscot Methodist Church.

Photo courtesy of Eric Ward/Unsplash.

By Sue Shaw

We are so very lucky...

To live here where we do.

And we realize that thanks should go

To every one of you!

Because of you our country

Is a free democracy...

Because of you, we all enjoy

Lives based in liberty. 

Because you served, we have free speech...

Free Press and we can meet...

To give support or to protest...

Our freedoms are complete!

Whether you wore navy white, 

Camo khaki-Air Force blue...

We won't forget--

We owe a debt--

To every one of you!

And when a holiday comes 'round...

With parades and marching bands...

And all across this country...

These vast and lovely lands...

When the flags all snap and the music swells,

Before the cheering crowd...

When patriotism is a force,

Then I hope that you are proud--

And that you feel the gratitude

That we all send your way...

That you realize

How much we prize

Your presence here today.

So we can thank you face-to-face

For the service that you gave...

To this great country that we love...

The one you helped to save!  

—Shaw lives in Penobscot.

The Rising Tide welcomes poems and other artistic endeavors from our community, and showcases them here in our “Create” section. If you have something you’d like to submit—a poem, a picture of a painting, a photograph, a music recording—send it to info@risingtide.media. We’d love to publish it.