Thank you, Veterans! We salute you!

Thank you, all those who serve in the military now and those who served in the past. We owe you so much.

Most of my family are/have been in the armed forces. My dad is retired US Navy (28 years, Chief Petty Officer), one uncle served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm, another was a master chief petty officer during Korea and Vietnam. My brother is in the Navy now, and my cousins have been in the US Army, Air Force and Marine Corps.

I think one of the most inspiring men I've known is a retired WWII Air Force Colonel, who worked with Werner Von Braun during the heyday of the space program in the 1950's-60's. Man, did he have stories about his time in the service!  I met him when he went back to school to finally become fluent in German...and he was the oldest student, in his 70's at the time.

Colonel Jack Crooke, USAF (retired).  You're so awesome. I hope to be so awesome when I get to your age.

Have a good Veterans Day, everyone, and be sure to thank those in uniform!



All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

Song Lyrics: The United States Marine Corps Hymn

Happy Birthday, United States Marine Corps! My cousin's husband served in the USMC, and I knew many cadets while I was in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets.

Here's your song:

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.

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze

From dawn to setting sun;

We have fought in every clime and place

Where we could take a gun;

In the snow of far-off Northern lands

And in sunny tropic scenes;

You will find us always on the job

The United States Marines.

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.

All original writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010

Art and Poem: Angel of Mercy

Angel of Mercy

The warrior for life looks up at the night sky

and thanks God and whoever else is watching

that lives were saved this day.

The war is not done,

it is far from won,

but every little battle

that ends in triumph is a

victory for humankind.

"Please grant me the  power to save,

the power to heal, to comfort,

and if this be my last day on Earth,

let me rest with the memory

that I did all I could to  ease

another one's suffering in the night

and the memory that I did what

my calling destined me to do."

All writing and art copyright A. Dameron 2000-2010