In GRATITUDE ~ Veterans Day ~ November 11, 2013

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain joined the ranks of the Union Army, during the American Civil War He became a highly respected and decorated Union officer, reaching the rank of brigadier general (and brevet major general). For his gallantry at Gettysburg, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Certainly he lived the loss, the pain and the glory of the battlefield. And so his words:

"Heroism is latent in every human soul - However humble or unknown, they (the veterans) have renounced what are accounted pleasures and cheerfully undertaken all the self-denials - privations, toils, dangers, sufferings, sicknesses, mutilations, life-long hurts and losses, death itself - for some great good, dimly seen but dearly held." Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, 1828 – 1914.

To Honor Those Who Lived A Cause

Flowers and flags in devoted array
A loving tribute this Memorial Day
To honor those who lived a cause
This moment, this day, and so a pause
Hearts and souls in valor known
Right intention and devotion shown
Battlefields of victory and plight
Through all beheld freedom's light
Answered they did to liberty's plea
That freedom be held for a you, a me
Sons and daughters, husbands and wives
Children of purpose have given their lives
The breath of freedom an endowment divine
Bequeathed to life yours, life mine
With valor and sacrifice life they gave
And embraced the call yet to be brave
In memorial and reverence gather we
For held be the right that we live free
Memory of each life gone never to fade
Live we life's blessings for sacrifice made.

And they who for country and freedom in battle perish
We to weep and in loving memory with gratitude cherish
For each life that was lives in God's embrace sublime
Ever blessed be their souls in soaring grace divine.

This in homage to all who served and serve in faith ever new.


Rose Marie Raccioppi
Poet Laureate
Orangetown, New York

Photography: Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, Joe Rosenthal's historic photo depicts five United States Marines and one United States Sailor raising an American flag. 
It was taken by Joe Rosenthal on February 23, 1945.


VFW Post 1615 Blauvelt NY Veterans Day Nov 11 2013 John Antonucci Commander
 Reading by Rose  Marie Raccioppi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ3mHujArow&feature=youtu.be

Orangetown Celebrates Veterans at Walkway of American Heroes
Pearl River, NY Patch

http://pearlriver.patch.com/groups/goodnews/p/orangetown-celebrates-veterans-at-walkway-of-american-heroes