MEMORIAL DAY 2008

ONCE AGAIN, THE ELK GROVE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE CELEBRATES MEMORIAL DAY AND REMEMBERS ALL THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN CIVIL WAR 1861-1865

Joe Fabel was kind enough to write a special Memorial Day poem. Joe recited his poem at Grand Army of the Republic Plot #2.

THOSE BURIED HERE

They were born in "many places"

But all volunteered to battle disunion

of their nation of gathered States

Whether through thought of glory

Or vision of promotion or medals,

They formed a bulwark of pride

Each harbored within nervous heart

A desire to be true to their manhood

And to bring honor to family and home.

Shattered quickly were those initial ideas

Of an early and decisive Union offensive,

That unrealistic belief of invinciblity.

Battle after battle of bloody engagement

Dislodged hope of early cessation of war;

Their Brotherly Enemy proved determined.

Close companions were wounded or killed

In the quick and quiet blur of close battle,

One moment yelling the next moment silent.

Some wounds were physical, others hurt

The inner psycho with damage just as true,

A scar which maimed amd remained forever.

The insatiable war demanded sacrifice of

Friend and Foe without favoring one or the other,

Until at last one side decided "enough, no more".

The young had become old, the ideals had faded,

the thoughts of glory were replaced by the desire

To end the ling, bloody fraternal killing of war.

Finally, those still standing were able to return

Home to rest and mend their bodies and minds,

To renew their quest for providing for family.

Today we recognize, honor and salute

Those Union Veterans of the Grand Army

Of the Republic who eternally rest here.

These soldiers' battles were fought alone

In valleys, on hilltops, in forgotten places,

Amidst unknown towns and villages and farms.

The individual contributions cannot be weighed

Nor measured against another's participation;

Each perfomed according to his own perceptions.

The marker present here identifies the final resting

place of these citizens who believed that a Union

Of People was much preferred to a Group fo States.

Let us honor them as individuals not submerged

Within the many; each soldier fought often alone,

Confused, frighten, scared of that next whining bullet.

They were called Henry, Caleb, John, Anthony,

Stephen and myriad other names given by mothers;

They would prefer to be remembered accordingly.

PRINTED WITH THE PERMISSION OF JOE FABEL-AWARD WINNING POET

ELK GROVE CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE