I went to a party
Just the other day
And I listened quietly
To what others had to say

I saw on their faces
Their awe with the scene
I walked away with knowledge
From them I could gleen

But there was one man
More important than most
He sat in the kitchen
After greeting our host

I found myself there
Drawn in by is voice
Almost as if
I had no choice

The others asked questions
I won't forget what I saw
The emotion on his face
Was painful and raw

His voice slightly trembled
His eyes started to stare
His soul was aching
But his heart he did bare

I could hear his pain
As his stories were told
And I could see his composure
Start to unfold

I walked over to him
Looking right in his eyes
When softly I touched him
His breath came in huge sighs

"Slow down Marine,
You don't have to share...
These memories still hurt you
And they're unaware."

He looked away then
Putting together a clear thought
I could still see the struggle
With the battles he fought

He looked back up
Right into my face
And to me gave a hug
Right there in that place

He whispered quietly
So no one would hear
"Thanks for saving me
and being a dear."





(((Justin))) Semper fi!! You don't ever have to share your memories with the people that don't matter.


Yes, other people were asking Justin about his time in Iraq and the injuries he sustained and what his reactions were rigt there at a party that was supposed to be fun and relaxing. To me this is disresectful and shouldn't happen. Let our brave men and women have some peace when they come home and don't invade their deepest darkest thoughts with your ignorance! They lived it once already let them put it away.

very nice-many forget that they have many emotions to deal with upon returning home...good for you

Good write

Thanks for this Vicki.. I have many friends .. Many.. that are Vets.. Going back to WWII, Korea, Nam, Grenada, Libya, Beirut, Desert Storm, and the current conflicts.

If a Vet wants to talk, then listen, but if they don't start talking about it, don't ask. Just say Thank you, and Welcome home.

Thank you for this piece. I'm a military brat so I've been around Army bases all of my life. I swore as a child I would never join the armed forces; I didn't appreciate it. Then my father passed and it hit me, his value to America. I truly thank you for this piece.

(((Lee)))
(((PKD)))
(((Kristi)))
(((Sully)))
(((Mig)))



Sully, you know you have my thanks and my friendship! You also have my respect, trust, and kinship. To me, all military men and women are family... Having had many members of my family in the services at one point or another I can't help but feeling somehow related to all of these brave people that have gone before, that serve now, and those that are yet to come. Thanks for dropping in and commenting!

Mig, my thanks to you and your family for what you ahve given. The families give as much as the ones that are serving and I give all the respect I can to them as well. I'm sorry you lost your father...
Good to see you here and thanks for posting!!

very very good..enjoyed, it very much.

Good message and great poem...

Beautiful {{{Vicki}}} beautiful...

(((2K)))
(((MzEm)))
(((Susan)))


My thanks to all of you!!!

I really enjoyed writing this piece as it is good to tell about real things and know I'm teaching a lesson that others need to learn.

I so love it when you come home,,,

Your deep compassion was/is sheer gift, and blessing

Thanks for letting me know you posted this and telling me the story of how it came to be. Lovely work

(((Denise))) home is where the heart is and I just keep coming back

(((Angel))) dunno if it is a gift or not but it is something that I have been given and I just couldn't let a good man drown like that.

(((David))) Glad you like it.

Awesome write!

As a Sailor myself and having many friends in the marines and army as well. Thank you.