In Memoriam

Here is a link to the VFP Memorial Day 2010 Statement by Board President Mike Ferner.

In addition, here are two poems, both written by combat veterans. I feel they are appropriate to the message of VFP for Memorial Day, which is to remember all the fallen of war, and the ultimate futility of war.
If there is a concern about permission to use these poems by the author or their family, please contact me and I will remove them.

Both poems are intense, and may disturb.

Peace,
Coyote

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Murder -- Most Foul

I shot a man yesterday
And much to my surprise,
The strangest thing happened to me
I began to cry.

He was so young, so very young
And Fear was in his eyes,
He had left his home in Germany
And came to Holland to die.

And what about his Family
were they not praying for him?
Thank God they couldn't see their son
And the man that had murdered him.

I knelt beside him
And held his hand--
I begged his forgiveness
Did he understand?

It was the War
And he was the enemy
If I hadn't shot him
He would have shot me.

I saw he was dying
And I called him "Brother"
But he gasped out one word
And that word was "Mother."

I shot a man yesterday
And much to my surprise
A part of me died with Him
When Death came to close
His eyes.

Sgt. James Lenihan, World War II Veteran (1921- 2007)


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I am who survived forgive me

I am who survived forgive me
I am who survived forgive me
I am who survived forgive me

I am who survived don't forgive me
I am who survived don't forgive me
I am who survived don't forgive me

I am who survived hate me
I am who survived hate me
I am who survived fucking hate me kill me

I am who
I am who
I am who

I am who. helped dirt and dust and death I am who. drove through dirt
and dust and flesh and guts I am who. kill me
I am who.. Kill me not them or you or fucking kid on road on death on
lust and blood Dirt blood road blood Horizon.

I am
I am
I am guilt and guts and hate and lost
I am nothing
I am lost and tired and nothing
I am lost guts throw up shit

I am who survived kill me
I am who survived
I. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
fuck I

I am who survived

Sgt. Aaron Hughes, Iraq War Veteran