Smart lads, to slip betimes away

The time you won your town the race
We chaired you through the market-place;
Man and boy stood cheering by,
And home we brought you shoulder-high

To-day, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town

Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields where glory does not stay,
And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose

Eyes the shady night has shut
Cannot see the record cut,
And silence sounds no worse than cheers
After earth has stopped the ears:

Now you will not swell the rout
Of lads that wore their honours out,
Runners whom renown outran
And the name died before the man.

So set, before its echoes fade,
The fleet foot on the sill of shade,
And hold to the low lintel up
The still-defended challenge-cup

And round that early-laurelled head
Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead
And find unwithered on its curls
The garland briefer than a girl's.

~ A.E. Housman ~

~*~

Freedom is not, has never been, and never will be free.

While we who are fortunate enough to live in the greatest country that has ever existed or ever will exist, attempt optimism in the face of those freedoms being systematically, methodically, and diabolically removed from us, Americans are still fighting and still dying in Operation Enduring Freedom.

That's what you call ironic.

This post is dedicated to three South Carolina men who lost their lives at the evil hand and mind of a suicide bomber and his barbaric minions in Afghanistan on June 20, 2012.

The photos were taken by me at the funeral of First Lieutenant Ryan Davis Rawl in Lexington, South Carolina, on June 30, 2012.

Ryan Rawl died alongside his buddies JD Meador and Brad Thomas. Five more members of their unit were grievously wounded in the attack.

The men leave behind three widows and five children in addition to many devastated moms, dads, brothers and sisters, other devoted relatives, and scores of friends.

The soldiers were/are attached to the South Carolina Army National Guard 133rd Military Police Company out of Timmonsville.

Rest in peace, young brave handsome soldiers.

~*~

~*~

In the quiet misty morning
When the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing
And the sky is clear and red,

When the summer's ceased its gleaming,
When the corn is past its prime,
When adventure's lost its meaning
I'll be homeward bound in time.

Bind me not to the pasture,
Chain me not to the plow.
Set me free to find my calling,
And I'll return to you somehow.

If you find it's me you're missing,
If you're hoping I'll return
To your thoughts I'll soon be list'ning
And in the road I'll stop and turn.

Then the wind will set me racing
As my journey nears its end,
And the path I'll be retracing
When I'm homeward bound again.

Bind me not to the pasture,
Chain me not to the plow.
Set me free to find my calling,
And I'll return to you somehow.

In the quiet misty morning
When the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing,
I'll be homeward bound again.

~Marta Keen Thompson~

~*~

Happy Fourth of July!

Comments

[irene]

Oh my, this is a wonderful tribute, however such a sad one, I cannot imagine being a relative of the fallen. It's way too expensive this freedom we enjoy. Thank you for reminding us.

[glenda]

Oh Jenny, the first picture took my breath away. What a cherished memory this will be for his family. To see the outpouring of love and respect from so many and to have you do this beautiful tribute to Ryan is so touching.He gave it all, and we have to remember that there are still so many over there still willing to give it all. God Bless them, and God bless my friend J. for honoring them in her own special way..............G.

[Mari]

What a tragedy! You've given them a wonderful tribute. Hearing of this type of loss always bothered me, and now it's worse because I personalize it. I bet you do too.
On another note, you took me back in time. I remember studying that poem when I was in 8th grade. I had a wonderful English/Literature teach who helped it come to life, and reading it brought me right back.

[Debbie]

Great tribute, the pictures are a great memorial and should make us all think, and be thankful.

Debbie
Right Truth

[Donna (Texas)]

Oh how Heartbreaking!!!!!
Sending Prayer to the families!!!
hughugs