PREAMBLES TO THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THE STATES  OF THE UNION: -  Rhode Island

IN HONOR OF THE AMERICAN SOLDIER OF THE WAR IN VIETNAM:

SHADOWS OF WAR

By Jerry Ogles

 

From Danang’s rocky shoreline

To Saigon’s seamy bars,

The soldier stood his watches

And fought his dreaded wars.

 

In Mekong’s fertile paddies,

And An Khe’s highland lairs

Our best men suffered horrors

Beneath the fading stars.

 

“Point man, move with caution!”

The trail with traps are strewn,

And every man a target

As known to God alone.

 

The ‘tunnel rat’ courageous

Seeks out the Viet Cong,

And risks his life for others

As others carried on.

 

The soldier wakes ere daybreak

To meet the chopper flight,

Survives another mission

To sleep another night.

 

In Monsoon’s dampened mildew

He makes his bed in camp,

Or else in jungle darkness –

He dares not light his lamp.

 

He dreams of home and family,

As his DEROS day draws near.

If God allows, he makes it,

Comes home to threats and jeers.

 

Sit back, you sorry traitor

Who smeers a hero’s name.

Renounce your blessed legacy

And claim betrayals shame.

 

The purchase of our freedom

Is paid by blood and sweat,

And the soldier stands e’er ready

To meet the tyrant’s threat.

 

He bears his service proudly

Without remorse or blame.

He is his country’s pride and hope

And history’s fair acclaim.

 

by Jerry Ogles (Nov 2022)

I wrote this poem a few years back to commemorate our men who died on battlefields around the world to preserve our liberty - from Concord to Kabul. (J. Ogles) 

Requiem to the American Soldier

 

Mine eyes have searched the battlefields, two hundred years ago,

And fixed upon my Fathers...with crosses row-on-row.

Their blood has nourished Courage and Ardent Virtue bought.

They stood in battle bravely - and fought the wars they fought.

 

The mist of years have softened, but the battle’s heat I feel:

Their lines sway like a banner as they charge up San Juan Hill.

In timeless sleep they stagger, beneath a khaki sky,

     But stand forth ever ready, to fight, to win, or die.

 

On Chickamauga’s creek beds, and Santiago’s slopes

       They fought as ones be-knighted, defending cherished hopes.

From the Ardennes’ bloody contest, to the walls of old Bastogne

     American blood and courage Have gained the Heights alone.

 

The shots at Concord township, join those of Gettysburg,

   And those fired at Fort Sumter, around the world were heard.

The beaches red at Normandy, and those of Inchon’s shores

Were bought and paid by courage, yet still the battle roars.

 

The Marines on Iwo Jima, and Troops at Kasserine Pass,

           Gave force to Freedom’s mandate, that right prevail at last.

The Airmen over Bremen, and Naval Guns at Guam,

      Brought thunder out of Heaven, ere Peace could bring the Calm.

 

On Mekong Delta’s paddies, and Khe Son’s rugged slopes

        The Grand Old Flag was lifted, with clear and crispy notes.

America’s youth and valor, were tested, tried and torn

           But pressed on proud and bravely, despite the Traitor’s scorn.

 

From desert dunes and wadies, en route to old Baghdad,

and in Fallujah’s ghetto’s,  where Satan’s seat was had,

The rich, brave notes of freedom sounded through the gloom, 

         where angels of the battle brought despotism’s doom.

 

To you, you Knights of Valor, Press on the torch of Right.

Reclaim the trailing Ensign, Restore the Shining Light.

The Light of Freedom’s promise, The hope of present years,

       Are now the struggle’s object, though won through Sweat and Tears.

 

A City, Bright and Gleaming, stands grandly on the Rise.

        The blood-bought fruits of Freedom beneath the Azure Skies,

Are all our Fathers fought for, and freely bled and paid

         So you and I could know them, before the glory fades.

 

With God our hope established in pastures Green with Love

And all our National Treasures, a gift from Him above,

We have no right to wander from Truth or Light or Trust,

But to the Throne of Mercy, our March is Good and Just.

 

~by Jerry Ogles, Bishop, Anglican Orthodox Church  ©2003 JOgles

 THE FAMILY ALTAR

June 18.

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge

of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past

finding out!" Rom. 11:33.

"Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon

thou standest is holy ground," God called out to Moses when He

appeared to him in the burning bush. (Ex. 3, 5.) Lowly rever-

ence is the only attitude becoming the sinful mortal in the presence

of the living God. Holiness is the habitation of our God; won-

derful is He both as to His divine being and His marvelous works.

No created mind can fathom the deep things of His Godhead or

unravel His unsearchable providences. As the heavens are higher

than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways, and His

thoughts than our thoughts. Yet man is often so perverse in his

sinful pride that he will cavil at God's holy Word and decry, even

denounce, His sovereign dispensations. But "woe unto him that

striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the pot-

sherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it,

What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?" (Is. 45, 9.)

May God in His mercy preserve us from such arrogance ! We will

say with Abraham: "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do

right?" (Gen. 18,25.) And with Moses we declare: "Ascribe ye

greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect;

for all His ways are judgment; a God of truth and without

iniquity, just and right is He." (Deut. 32, 3. 4.) Though we may

not understand the dark, mysterious ways He often leads us in

this world, we will by the aid of His Holy Spirit believe and

declare with the Psalmist: "All the paths of the Lord are mercy

and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies"

(Ps. 25, 10), and will sing and say with the sweetly comforting

hymn : "Beloved, 'It is well !' God's ways are always right ; And

perfect love is o'er them all, Though far above our sight."