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THE FINAL INSPECTION
The soldier stood and faced God,
which must always come to pass.
he hoped his shoes were shining,
just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, you soldier,
how shall I deal with you ?
Have you always turned the other cheek ?
To My Church have you been true?"
The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I
ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays,
and at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny,
that wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
when the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place,
among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord,
it needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
but if you don't, I'll understand.
There was a silence all around the throne,
where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
for the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you soldier,
you've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
you've done your time in Hell."
Written
by
Sgt.Joshua Helterbran
224th Engineer Battalion
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It's the Soldier, not the reporter
who has given us the freedom of the press.
It's the Soldier, not the poet,
who has given us the freedom of speech.
It's the Soldier, not the politicians
that ensures our right to Life, Liberty and the
Pursuit of Happiness.
It's the Soldier who salutes the flag,
who serves beneath the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag.
THESE COLORS DON'T RUN
America
The Beautiful
O beautiful for spacious skies
For amber waves of grain
For purple mountain majesties
Above thy fruited plain
America, America
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea
For beautiful for spacious skies
For amber waves of grain
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain
America, America!
God shed His grace on thee
And He crowns thy good, with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea
America, America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
AMERICA.....
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Tabby
and I hope you will
come
back real soon...
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January
2006
America
The Beautiful
Sung by
Elvis Presley
The author of "America the Beautiful,"
Katharine Lee Bates, was born in Falmouth,
Massachusetts in 1859 and grew up near the
rolling sea.
Bates, who eventually became a full professor
of English literature at Wellesley College,
made a lecture trip to Colorado in 1893 and
there she wrote the words to
"America the Beautiful."
For several years "America the Beautiful"
was sung to almost any popular air or folk
tune with which the lyrics fit:
"Auld Lang Syne" was one of the most common.
Today it is sung to a melody written in 1882
by Samuel Augustus Ward, a Newark, New Jersey,
church organist and choirmaster.
Ward originally composed the melody
(also titled "Materna") to accompany the words
of the sixteenth century hymn "O Mother Dear, Jerusalem."
When the National Federation of Music Clubs sponsored a
1926 contest to elicit new music for Bates' poem but
failed to find a winner, Ward's music prevailed.
The music here is purely for entertainment and
educational purposes only.
Titles have copyright by their respective
artists and record companies.
Please show your support for the artists who
gave us this great music
by purchasing their CDs.
If you would like to purchase a CD of America by
Elvis Presley,
I have added a link to Amazon.com. They
sell both new and used CD's.
Thank you.....
*ZIPLO*
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