Memorial Day
Another sad Memorial DayTo Honor all of those lost
As we tally up another year
Of all, that this War has cost. Nearly thirty-five hundred Families
To mourn the death of a loved one
How many more must we add
Before this War is finally done? Let's not forget all those wounded
More than twenty-five thousand strong
Though this day is for the Dead
To Honor these too, can't be wrong. First observed in Eighteen sixty-eight
And the “list”, continues to grow
As real Peace seems so elusive
Something, we'll probably never know. It's not in the Human psyche
To get along, with one another
It seems that all we know to do
Is just one War after another. So, this day we Honor those Heroes
Who marched off to War to die
Sometimes for a noble cause
And some, those times when some ask, “Why!” But, one thing we can always count on
There's always those Heroes-to-be
Who step up, Sacrifice their lives
So that other people, might be Free. Del “Abe” Jones
5.22.2007
ONLY NUMBERS?
(for Veteran's Day but works here, too) Two hundred, twenty-eight yearsThat, we have been going to war
Eleven times we said, “For freedom!”
Was, what we were fighting for. We’ve spent two, point, six trillion plus
But that was just a petty cost
Compared to all of the spent lives
Of those loved ones, who were lost. Thirty-two hundred plus, a month
For more than thirty-six years
The total time fighting our enemies
And more time, shedding our tears. One and one quarter million dead
That’s more than fifteen every day
Since we went to war, “For freedom!”
In our Revolutionary way. One and one half million wounded
For this Country of the Free
Although some of these losses
Were the Union’s and Confederacy. But, all of them are Veterans
Who fought for what they believed
In their own way, doing battle
For those Freedoms, they perceived. As of late, a Veteran’s definition
Has come from a different kind of War
For which we all, are conscripted
To help guard, our Freedom’s door. Let’s Honor, each and every one
And though we may not know each name
They were so much more than numbers
In every Wartime’s deadly “game”. And, each November eleventh
In the years, that come to be
Let’s hope someday, all People
Live in a land, where they are Free. Let’s make Veteran’s Day a memory
And a part of days gone past
Learn to live with our Fellowman
In a Free World at Peace, at last. Del “Abe” Jones
10-24-2003
HEROES, EVERY ONE!
Memorial Day, 2006
More than we should care to countWith more added every day
The death toll from this hapless War
Is far too high, a price to pay. We were convinced by false words
From those in whom we put our trust
Were told for the safety of our Country
That invading Iraq was a must. But our Nation seems no safer
And many feel that things are worse
As we lose more friends around the World
And become a Land to hate and curse. Our Troops are the bright shining light
Who will go there and risk their all
Each of them, a true life Hero
Men and Women, standing proud and tall. Most all of them are only kids
The way Wars always seem to be
The young are sent to fight and die
For the sake of Democracy. But, as the body count keeps growing
And the real truth becomes more clear
People and Troops are finally asking
“What are we really doing here?” The Taliban are coming back
And Osama still has his plan
We should have finished what we started
When we went to Afghanistan. But we diverted our attention
And caused another breeding place
For all kinds of terrorists and nuts
The scourges of the Human Race. Maybe sanity will soon prevail
And let us hope it’s not too late
To end this and bring Troops Home
Before they know that deadly fate. For, no matter how each of us feel
About the politics of this War
We’ve sacrificed enough Americans
For the answer to, “What for?” Let’s bring them back and Honor them
And not forget when War is done
Treat all our Veterans as we should
As our Heroes, each and every one. And there’s not enough praise
To give all those who gave their life
And all those wounded and maimed
Left with the pain of Wartime’s strife. Del “Abe” Jones
5-24-2006
A National Moment of Remembrance
On Memorial Day
That poem about where “poppies blow”And, “the crosses, row on row”
Still rings true, these ninety years
After written, still brings tears. We still have Dead, “amid the guns”
And lose our young and our loved ones
Those who lived, “short days ago”
Who, “felt dawn, saw sunset glow”. In Flanders Fields, “the poppy red”
Still grow near where the blood was bled
They, “Take up our quarrel with the foe”
And still die for Freedoms that we know. They pass, “The torch” to, “hold it high”
And not, “break the faith with us who die”
For they, “shall not sleep, though poppies grow”
Beneath all those, “crosses, row on row”
In Flanders Fields. Del “Abe” Jones
4-25-2005
MEMORIAL DAY
Vacations and the "Indy"
A holiday, too often times
We forget what, it should be. A time to pay respect to those
Who rallied to the battle cry
Who gave their lives for liberty
Those freedoms for you and I. Such a waste of brave young souls
Some still struggling through their youth
Who faced and fell willingly
Before wartime's awful truth. So as we share this holiday
With our friends or family
Take a moment to give thanks to
Those who died so we'd stay free. Let us strive for world peace
For the end of greed and hate
For next time, after "the war"
It surely, just could be too late. Del "Abe" Jones
FREEDOMS' MEMORIAL
to honor those
who took the chance to die. But they have died in vain
if we ever forget
the reason why. Freedom can be like time
slipping away
before we even know. But we all have the choice
more, a duty
to battle freedoms' foe. Let us give thanks this day
to all those brave
who paid the highest cost. Not take it for granted
and realize
it easily could be lost. Del "Abe" Jones
Memorial Day
Who put, their Life on the line
And sometimes give their All
For, Freedoms of yours and mine. But now, it seems much different
We ask them, in another’s name
To Protect their Freedoms, too
And Sacrifice, like it’s the same. But, you can’t give Freedom away
It’s something, you must embrace
And it may not always work
In, each and every time and place. We can’t change centuries of life
And ask our Troops to lead the way
To place their lives in jeopardy
Just because, the Politicians say. But now, that we are in this mess
It must be seen through to the end
And a Prayer said, for those who die
Amongst those brave souls, we send. It’s so sad at this year’s Tribute
We must add, all those Names we do
With the hope, that someday
All these Wars will be through. Del "Abe" Jones
Please visit Del's pages to read more of his writing - information listed below.
Newest writings 9/11 Memoriam Updated May 18, 2004 More Poetry Books, "OF NATIVE AMERICAN", and "MOONTIDES, AND OTHER CHANGES" as well as "THE WORLD, WAR, FREEDOM, AND MORE" are now available for free viewing or download in text format at: Books and More for free viewing or download To see pics of Ellis County Veterans Memorial in Waxahachie, Texas where two of my poems are inscribed go to: Poems Inscribed "MANKIND’S GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT IS NOT THE REVOLUTION OF TECHNOLOGY IT IS THE EVOLUTION OF CREATIVITY " copyright Del "Abe" Jones 1984 I was very honored to receive the following award. Award and more writing Please visit for more of my work.NEXT - A MOVING VIDEO YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS
Last updated on May 24, 2007