|
THREE AND
COUNTING
Another
anniversary
Of our "day
of infamy"
Of battles against
terror
And it’s war’s
casualty.
Osama still on the
roam
And the borders, we control
(?)
Filling up with
terrorists
Who come to thwart our
goal.
Maybe, "we can win" the
war
Or, "maybe we
can’t"
Depends on who you talk
to
Who’ll give you a different
slant.
But, ask the friends and
families
Of those who have already
"lost"
And those who march in
"harm’s way"
Who, really
pays the "cost"?
The bureaucrats and
diplomats
Political/military
brass
Tell us it’s all
necessary
And that, this too, will
pass.
But, ask those who build the
bombs
And blow themselves, to
"Kingdom Come"
Who think killing innocent
people
Will take them to
"Martyrdom".
They have no respect for
life
Or the consequence of
actions
Using any means to an
"end"
Of all non-Muslim
factions.
Our Nation is sadly
learning
What others already
knew
That the terrorists will
never quit
No matter what we
do.
We’ve also learned a
lesson
That we should have
known
We must work with other
Countries
Because, we’ll never win,
alone.
Del "Abe" Jones
09-07-2004
Ten years of "BITS N PIECES"
By some People who still care
In a search for clues and answers
About Those We left "over there".
Trying to get the military
And all those politicians
To take actions to find Them
With calls, letters and petitions.
It’s a sad State of Affairs
When the families and friends
Must lead the Battle in the Search
In this War that never ends.
All those loved ones still Missing
Who went to War for me and you
Deserve much more from our Country
Than just the efforts of those few.
"The National Alliance of Families"
Carries that Banner for us all
To bring home those Forgotten
Who answered our Nation’s Call.
Please visit their pages
And give them a helping hand
For if "One Missing" was "One" close to
you
Maybe then, you’d understand.
Del "Abe" Jones
Where
Does The Buck Stop??
It’s
too bad They can’t be Honest
The
type of folks who really care
But
it seems every election time
We
get the same, liars Vanity Fair.
They
worry ‘bout their own Agendas
And
not the Solemn Oath they Swore
While
special interests curry favor
With
corporate dollars and much more.
They
don’t care about "The People"
Outside
the "good ol’ boy", Beltway
They
don’t care what the Cost is
Because,
they’re not the ones who pay.
While
they help the rich get richer
And
the Working Man pays the bills
As
long as the bucks keep rolling in
They
don’t "sweat" our Country’s ills.
If
found, "hand in the cookie jar"
Or
when they get caught lying
Or
even make honest mistakes
Their
cover-ups are "trying".
Whether
Republican or Democrat
Seems
anymore they’re all the same
"Pass
the buck, don’t stop it here"
Is
still the name of the game.
We
must make them accountable
The
Leaders of this Land
For
things will never change
Until
the People make a stand.
They
don’t put their young in Uniform
Or
expect them to pay their "dues"
They
don’t shed tears for lost, loved ones
When
they hear the Evening News.
"War"
is just a word to them
Not
like in those days gone past
When,
we all took up the Battle
When
Wartime’s stone was caste.
The
Proud Honor of our Warriors
Seems
to be strong and fine
Except
for those many "Elite"
Who
say, "No, you can’t take mine!"
Sadly,
there are those bad apples
Who’ll
make all Soldiers look bad
Like
those pics coming from Iraq
And
those scapegoats to be "had".
Where
were all the Officers
From
the Chain of Command
In
front of the enlisted Troops
Where
they are supposed to stand.
When
our Nation is in Danger
And
we offer our young ones
To
stand there at the Frontlines
It
should be, Everyone’s.
Every
able bodied youngster
Has
the Duty to Serve
To
do their part to earn the Life
We
all think that "we deserve".
We
All rallied behind our Troops
During
the last (?) World War
The
"privileged" joined with the masses
Though,
they knew what was in store.
Moms
were air-raid wardens
Or
worked at defense production
Even
kids collected scrap metal
And
"rations" were at great reduction.
These
days, we watch it on the "tube"
Desensitized
against battles we mount
Unless
it’s one, of Our Loved Ones
Who
is part of the body count.
Not
only in World "Theaters"
Where
we strive, to Right, wrong
But,
here at Home, everyday
Where
We, All can’t get along.
We
must put our own "House" in Order
Before
we can cure the World’s woes
And
we could be defeated from, "within"
Because
of indifference to Truth's foes.
We
just can’t blindly follow
Believing
the "powers that be"
Just
because they say, They Lead
This,
Land of the Free.
Then
there is "Homeland Security"
That
we do need for detection
Of
threats against our people
As
long as our Rights have protection.
A
small percentage of our People
Serve,
sacrifice, and some give all
But,
we must step up, do our part
‘Lest
we see our "Colors" fall.
Del
"Abe" Jones
05-01-2004
THE
WWII MEMORIAL
It’s
been a long time coming
And
it is way overdue
This
Memorial to Honor Heroes
Who
died during World War II.
On
the Mall in Washington
There’s
a curving Wall of Stars
Marking
four hundred thousand Dead
Plus
those Survivors healing scars.
Sixteen
million Served
In
all the Military ways
With
only four million left
And
most, with numbered days.
Most
Americans today
Don’t
know how close we came
To
the tides turning against us
But
for, those Battles in our name.
A
Tribute we owe all Those
Who
paid the Ultimate Price
And
it’s better late than never
To
Honor their Supreme Sacrifice.
So
many of those Veterans say
That
was the last, "Military War"
The
clear danger to our Nation
Was
what, They were fighting for.
Now,
They will never be forgotten
Immortalized
within that Stone
Gathered
together in one place
So,
They will never be alone.
Del
"Abe"Jones
05-29-2004
THE
DEATH OF INNOCENCE
Fourteen
more young wasted lives
And
one teacher who gave all
And
once more the questions
Why,
no one heard the call.
Why,
two young minds and hearts
Were
filled with so much hate
Why,
they took it on themselves
To
seal, all those others fate.
There
is no answer, that makes sense
No
way to sort it out
And
we should all, ask just what
We,
really are about.
Why,
the future is no more
For
all of those young souls
Why,
no more hopes and dreams
No
chance to reach their goals.
Why,
with all our expertise
And,
our technology
Why,
we can’t stop the madness
In
our "great" (?) society.
There
is no answer, that makes sense
No
way to sort it out
And
we should all, ask just what
We,
really are about.
Why,
our children can get guns
Make
bombs to kill and maim
Why,
parents think, "No, not mine!
(Don’t
play, that deadly game.)
Why,
we say every time
"It
shouldn’t happen here!"
Why,
we don’t take it serious
And
shudder with fear.
There
is no answer, that makes sense
No
way to sort it out
And
we should all, ask just what
We,
really are about.
4-21-99
Del
"Abe" Jones
Semper
Fidelis
On
the tenth day of November
In
Seventeen seventy-five
Two
Battalions were formed
And
the Marine Corps came alive.
The
Continental Congress
Had
passed a resolution
For
a landing force for the fleet
A
new Navy Institution.
Since
that day so long ago
Through
all conflicts of our Nation
They’ve
fueled stories and folklore
And
stirred the imagination.
They’re
usually the first to go
The
"spearhead" of the fight
Some
who heard they were coming
Have
turned tail and took flight.
They’ve
offered up, gave their All
And
that continues to this day
Standing
tall, marching forth
To
show others, Freedom’s way.
Del
"Abe" Jones
05-26-2004
WITHOUT
CEREMONY
We
send them out to risk their lives
And
then, when they give their all
We
hear their names on the news
Without
Ceremony, and that's all.
Each
should have an Honor Guard
That's
shown, for the World to see
That
we pay homage to all those
Who
died for all our Liberty.
Each,
should have their own caisson
Rolling
slowly, down each street
To
make us, always remember
Who
our enemies, did meet.
But,
nowadays it seems
That
all the Powers that be
Want
them to return unnoticed
And,
Without Ceremony.
"It's
too hard for the Loved Ones."
If,
we Honor, their Remains
They
say, "Out of sight and mind."
Will
help ease all the pains.
But
our Government, (and us)
Who
let them come home unseen
And,
Without Ceremony
Are
doing something that's obscene.
We
have Celebrations
When
the rest of them return
But,
it's the Dead and Wounded
Who
could teach us, if, we'd learn.
Del
"Abe" Jones
02-22-2004
CASTING
HIS OWN SHADOW
Well,
Dale Junior did it
And,
in an awesome way
After
his Dad won the first time
Eleven
years, to the day.
I
think there were two drivers
In
that car Saturday night
Junior
was at the wheel
And
Dale calling shots, just right.
A
guiding hand upon his shoulder
And
a voice there in his mind
Saying,
"You can do it, Junior!
Because,
we are a special kind."
Sometimes
in the shadow
And
now, he casts his own
And
I’m sure Dale’s proud
Of
the man, he’s grown.
What
a fitting tribute
From
Junior for his Dad
All
the glory of the win
But,
some ways, still sad.
They
say, time will heal all
But,
there’ll always be that space
Left
by that Number 3 car
In
every NASCAR race.
But,
that was an indication
That
we might see it all, again
As
Junior carries the tradition
And
then, all of us will win.
Del
"Abe" Jones
7-8-01
I
BET HE IS!
I
bet Dale’s lookin’ down sayin’
"Now,
wasn’t that some race
We
took first and second
And
almost, a third place".
I
bet he’s saying, "Sterling,
You
sure took me for a run,
And
I can’t remember when
I’ve
had so much fun."
We
swapped a little paint
And
shared each others rubber
You
gave me the race I like
And
I love you, Brother".
Del
"Abe" Jones
2-20-01
|
DALE
EARNHART
For
more than twenty years
He
ran those ol’ stock cars
Now,
he’s racing in the Heavens
In
and out amongst the stars.
Less
than half a century
He
spent here in this place
But,
made his mark in history
And
there’ll always be a trace
He
left this world doing the thing
Closest
to his heart
Now
he’ll race forever
With
a brand new "green flag start"
He’ll
be missed by many
Fans,
friends, and family
But
if we look to the sky
I
know that we will see
His
number "3" flash by
Bumping,
a star or two
To
let all know, he’s there
Like
he always, loved to do.
Del
"Abe" Jones
February
19, 2001
RIDING
BY HIS SIDE
I
bet Daddy was a’ grinning
When,
the checkered fell
And
hollered out, "That’s my Boy!"
(As
if, we couldn’t tell.)
Little
E said, "He was with me.*
Said,
Dale was riding by his side
And
I bet he shed, a tear too
As,
his heart swelled with pride.
It’s
three years since we lost him
But,
Dale never went away
‘Cause
he's riding ‘round with Junior
On
each and every, racing day.
Del
"Abe" Jones
2-15-2004
FOR
MOMS
She
was there at the beginning
When
the world was new to you -
She
was there to turn to happy times
Those
when, you were hurt or blue.
She
was there to listen to your thoughts
And
when you asked, to give advice -
She
was there to tell you, "Those don't match!"
Or,
"Hon, you sure look nice."
She
was there with you at nighttime
To
help you say your prayers _
She
was there to tell you, "It's alright."
When
you had a dream that scares.
She
was there at morning time
To
get you up and out of bed -
She
was there when you didn't feel good (or did)
To
say, "You'd best stay home, instead."
She
was there when you were hungry
And
when you had those dirty clothes -
She
was there when you needed her
(How
she knew? Only heaven knows.)
She
was there at the beginning
And
she'll be there your whole life through -
She'll
be there in your mind and heart
Just
like a Mother’s supposed to do.
Del
"Abe" Jones
ARMED
FORCES DAY
(May
15, 2004)
At
the urging of Harry Truman
The
third Saturday in May
The
new Department of Defense
Proclaimed
it, "Armed Forces Day".
A
day to Thank all the Services
Who
defend our air, land, and sea
Who
serve our Country Proudly
Defending,
this Land of the Free.
All
those young Men and Women
And
too, all of those "oldsters"
Who
march, fly, and set sail
As
Airmen, Sailors, Marines and Soldiers.
Some
of them serve as "Regulars"
And
some just do, the weekend
But
all step forward, Strong and Proud
When
we need someone to send.
The
times have been a'changing
And
missions they're asked to do
Grow
much more complicated
Than
what, they used to do.
They
must be Warrior and Diplomat
With
clenched fist or gentle touch
Pass
the ammunition, feed the hungry
Build
roads, hospitals, and such.
"A
Tradition of Heroes"
Is
what some people say
But,
we all owe them, "Thank you!"
On
this, "Armed Forces Day"
Del
"Abe" Jones
05-12-2004
THAT
SPECIAL KIND
Since
the Birth of our Nation
We
have sent our Young to War
To
do Battle for our Freedoms
For
Truth, and Right, and More.
We
take them from their Families
And
send them all around the
World
To
show all the other Peoples
How,
Freedom’s flag’s unfurled.
They’re
sent with a wealth of knowledge
That
they carry and spread well
Our
Ambassadors to others
With
a story only, they can tell.
So,
as we bask in our lifestyles
And
gather ‘round the Christmas
Tree
Let’s
say a Prayer and Give Thanks
To
those who make us Free.
Lets
bring them all Home for
a moment
And
hold them in our Heart and
Mind
For
each and every one’s a Hero
And
each, one of a very Special
kind.
Del
"Abe" Jones
White
Bluff, TN
12-11-2003
Memorial
Day
A
time for picnics, time off work
Vacations
and the "Indy"
A
holiday, too often times
We
forget what it should be.
A
time to pay respect to those
Who
rallied to the battle cry
Who
gave their lives for liberty
Those
freedoms for you and I.
Such
a waste of brave young souls
Some
still struggling through their youth
Who
faced and fell willingly
Before
wartimes' awful truth.
So
as we share this holiday
With
our friends or family
Take
a moment to give thanks to
Those
who died so we'd stay free.
Let
us strive for world peace
For
the end of greed and hate
For
next time, after "the war"
It
just may be too damned late.
Freedom's
Memorial
This
day is set aside
to
honor those
who
took the chance to die.
But
they have died in vain
if
we ever forget
the
reason why.
Freedom
can be like time
slipping
away
before
we even know.
But
we all have the choice
more,
a duty
to
battle freedoms' foe.
Let
us give thanks this day
to
all those brave
who
paid the highest cost.
Not
take it for granted
and
realize
it
easily could be lost.
Del
"Abe" Jones
Memorial
Day 2004
We've
Troops around the World
Who
put, their Life on the line
And
sometimes give their All
For,
Freedoms of yours and mine.
But
now, it seems much different
We
ask them, in another’s name
To
Protect their Freedoms, too
And
Sacrifice, like it’s the same.
But,
you can’t give Freedom away
It’s
something, you must embrace
And
it may not always work
In,
each and every time and place.
We
can’t change centuries of life
And
ask our Troops to lead the way
To
place their lives in jeopardy
Just
because, the Politicians say.
But
now, that we are in this mess
It
must be seen through to the end
And
a Prayer said, for those who die
Amongst
those brave souls, we send.
It’s
so sad at this year’s Tribute
We
must add, all those Names we do
With
the Hope, that by next year
All
these Wars will be through.
2-2-2004
Del
"Abe" Jones
MY
ROCK
Sometimes
I catch myself
Thinking,
"When I phone,
I
can talk of this or that!"
Then
remember, I'm alone.
She
was always there
To
answer my calls -
To
listen to my "small talk"
Or
when I climbed the walls.
Sometimes,
I didn't feel like talking
And
somehow, she understood -
Didn't
say she wished I'd call
Or
make me feel like I should.
Now,
I wish I would have
More
times, to show I cared -
To
say, just how important
Were,
all those times we shared.
I
could have shown my love
So
much more than I did -
I
never, did it enough
Even
when I was a kid.
Now
it's too late to do or say
All
those things I wish I had -
No
way to ease the pain inside
When
my heart is sad.
She
was my "anchor" to this life -
The
"rock", that I clung to -
The
place, where I could turn
When,
nowhere else would do.
Now,
the ravages of time
Have
worn my "rock" away -
And
all I have to cling to
Are
memories of yesterday.
Del
"Abe" Jones
IN
PASSING
Sometimes
Mom in passing
Would
pat you on the back
And
sometimes in passing
She'd
show you the right track.
Sometimes
Mom in passing
Would
say, "You sure look nice!"
And
sometimes in passing
She
could, make you, think twice.
Sometimes
Mom in passing
Would
lightly touch your hair
And
sometimes in passing
She'd
show you what was fair.
Sometimes
Mom in passing
Would
ask, "What do you mean?"
And
sometimes in passing
She
would get in between.
Sometimes
Mom in passing
Would
give you, "that look"
And
sometimes in passing
Would
give you what it took.
But
this time, Mom is passing
From
this world to the best
And
this time in passing
She'll
pass the final test.
And
when Mom has passed
And
the pain is so unkind
Just
look and you'll find her
There
in your heart and mind.
Del
"Abe" Jones
Michelle
Witmer
Only
twenty years ago
She
came onto this earth
Joined
by Sis, Charity
At
the time of Her birth.
Another
older Sister
Two
Brothers, Mom and Dad
Left
behind to mourn the loss
With
much Pride, within the sad.
Three
women, "in country"
Doing
their Duty with the Guard
But
Mom and Dad, never guessed
That,
it could be so hard.
Trying
to help another People
In
a foreign, far-off land
Fighting
for, and against them
Is
not exactly, what they’d planned.
Now,
they want their "Babies" Home
Or
at least, in some safe place
For
fear of another loss
That,
can never be replaced.
They
have made their sacrifice
In
the highest order of the day
Michelle,
a Soldier who Gave All
Is
the price, they had to pay.
Del
"Abe" Jones
White
Bluff, TN
4-13-2004
AND,
THEY WERE THERE, TOO
(Etched
in Texas Monument)
Not
enough credit given, to mothers, sisters, daughters, wives,
Some
too, who gave their all, the best years of their lives.
There's
some, wore a uniform, of one of the military "branches"
And
like all of those men, taken some deadly chances.
Some
were in the U.S.O., brought a little taste of home,
With
small talk, donuts, coffee, where'er the troops would roam.
There
was "Rosie the Riveter," who fought her own war here.
And
the nurses that eased the pain, and tried to ease the fear.
There
were women pilots, who put their lives on the line,
Said,
"Send me where you will. That suits me, just fine!"
Those
who stayed at home, to raise their families,
Who
gave all, went without, realizing harsh realities.
So
many of those women, who gave so much more
Than
they were asked to, during each and every war.
We
honor those, upon this stone, and give our humble "Thanks"
To
those who served with honor, in our country's wartime ranks.
Del
"Abe" Jones
Click
here to see a photo.
MILITARY
SPOUSE’S DAY
(May
7)
It’s
a day set aside in May
To
Honor those often left at home
Who
stand beside their loved ones
Who
are often on the roam.
They
raise the family, pay the bills
And
do it all without complaint
Many
times they aren’t too happy
But
hold their feelings in restraint.
They’re
the backbone of the Services
And
hold the line on the Homefront
They
put their own lives on hold
With
their Spouses’ on the forefront.
Men
and Women hold the "Fort" down
For
their significant others
Who
are off preserving Freedom
With
their "Sisters" and "Brothers".
There’s
not enough Credit given
To
those Spouses left behind
For
they truly are a rare breed
Of
a very Special kind.
Del
"Abe" Jones
05-06-2004
Freedom's
Memorial
This
day is set aside
to
honor those
who
took the chance to die.
But
they have died in vain
if
we ever forget
the
reason why.
Freedom
can be like time
slipping
away
before
we even know.
But
we all have the choice
more,
a duty
to
battle freedoms' foe.
Let
us give thanks this day
to
all those brave
who
paid the highest cost.
Not
take it for granted
and
realize
it
easily could be lost.
Del
"Abe" Jones
|
