The Legacy of Heroes

I'm glad that Jenny is giving those of us who flock like squawking magpies to her Saturday Centus meme each week an opportunity to pay tribute to our heroes on this Memorial Day weekend. We are allowed to add no more than 100 words to her prompt (which is in red, below), so I've decided to go with a poem.

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The Legacy of Heroes

©2011 Susan Noyes Anderson

Today we celebrate our troops,

whose valor must be praised.

Our nation is the legacy

of heroes, born and raised.

From sea to shining sea, they choose

to honor and protect

the laws and land that we revere,

the freedoms we respect.

The sacrifices of these men

and women stir our hearts,

invoking all the gratitude

their selflessness imparts.

We celebrate each one of them

and thank their families, too,

for rising to our country’s call

with courage known by few.

May we be true to all who serve,

and hold in memory,

each father...mother...daughter...son...

whose blood has kept us free.

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