Inklings: Memorial Day: Thank You | Columnists | Summerville Journal Scene

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Inklings: Memorial Day: Thank You

Published Thursday, May 27, 2010 12:32 PM

By Barbara Lynch Hill
Summerville Journal Scene ®

“Memorial Day,” dedicated to those who died in our defense is really the year’s first Day of Thanks, aptly rendered in poetry, prose and music.

“High Flight,” by John Gillespie Magee, Jr. captures the stirring drama of the USAF.

“Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,

I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew -

And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod

Put out my hand and touched the face of God.”

An Army ode, penned by Lt. Col John McCrae, MD, is perhaps the most famous of war poems.

“In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

“We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

“Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.”

The USMC Hymn, music by Jacques Offenbach, words by an unknown author, is a stirring comment on this corps’ dedication, especially, I think, verses one and three.

“From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli,

We fight our country's battles in the air, on land and sea.

First to fight for right and freedom, and to keep our honor clean;

We are proud to claim the title of United States Marine.”

“Here's health to you and to our Corps, which we are proud to serve.

In many a strife we've fought for life and never lost our nerve.

If the Army and the Navy ever look on heaven's scenes,

They will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines.”

The USN Hymn began as a poem by William Whiting, set to music by John Dykes and lives as inspiration to those who go down to the sea in ships, especially, I believe, the first two verses.

“Eternal Father, strong to save,

Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,

Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep

Its own appointed limits keep;

Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,

For those in peril on the sea!”

“O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard

And hushed their raging at Thy word,

Who walked'st on the foaming deep,

And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;

Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,

For those in peril on the sea”!

On Monday we can also reflect on a 2004 Chicago Tribune drawing, sent me by Dena Phillips, which shows a visitor to a wartime graveyard saying “You military heroes gave up all your tomorrows so I could have mine. Thank you.”

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