[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 193 (Wednesday, November 3, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7715-S7716]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO JOHN WILLIAM STOKES

 Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I have come to the floor to 
recognize an Alaskan who I have come to know over

[[Page S7716]]

the years through his compelling correspondence. Bill Stokes is an 
artist, a man of deep thought and many talents. Among his many traits 
and skills, he does incredible woodworking and water systems, and he is 
an author and a poet. In honor of Veterans Day, Bill has asked me to 
submit two of his poems to the Congressional Record.
  The first poem is entitled ``Tears.''

     I have pondered long and hard for more than fifty years.
     And it is my belief that the two most important gifts you 
           will ever know are life and freedom because the price 
           of both is a Mother's tears.
     Both require an entire lifetime of hard hard work.
     And you cannot, dare not, avoid and shirk.
     Birth is the hardest work a mother will ever do.
     And freedom also requires an excruciatingly painful birth 
           with unending protection from both me and you.
     Make no mistake that freedom comes at great cost of life.
     Because tyrants are as thieves that are totally committed to 
           stealing your freedom with a bloody knife.
     The description is exactly real.
     Because if you don't aggressively protect your freedom, the 
           knife you will feel.
     Freedom absolutely requires an honest government with a 
           standing army of those unafraid to die.
     To ensure that every future generation has the ability to 
           follow its dreams to the far edge of the sky.
     Falling in battle is clearly the Soldier's lot.
     But that is how the freedom you enjoy is bought.
     Those fallen in battle cannot ever become nameless and lost.
     And regardless of culture or clime, a national day of 
           remembrance, ensures that every warrior's name is with 
           honor, remembered, that they paid for your freedom's 
           cost.
     I have pondered long and hard for more than fifty years.
     And it is my belief that the two most important gifts you 
           will ever know are life and freedom because the price 
           of both is a Mother's tears.

  The second poem is called ``Son.''

     As I walked by a young man was standing in front of his home 
           wearing his desert camouflage waiting for his ride and 
           as I walked up to him he cradled his gun.
     And I couldn't help myself from asking ``What's your name 
           son?''
     I did not understand why he stood there alone when I heard 
           his mother's wails of despair as she cried.
     And his father's voice cracking as he tried to comfort her 
           from the house somewhere inside.
     His eyes were red from his own tears as he to his family he 
           had said his goodbye.
     And everyone knowing full well that this might be the last 
           time they see him alive from fighting in a war he did 
           not contrive.
     I told him that as a father and a vet.
     How proud I was and his name was indelible in my mind and I 
           would never forget.
     As I only came this way every month or so I would look and 
           see.
     That upon his return if he tied a bright red ribbon on a 
           branch of the front yard tree.
     Before I left I came to full attention and saluted him with 
           all the honor he was due.
     And with a calm determination looking straight into my eyes, 
           he returned the salute understanding exactly what we 
           both already knew.
     I made many trips walking by that house looking for a ribbon 
           to let me know he was back.
     And just about a year later there was a ribbon tied to the 
           tree but it wasn't red, it was black.
     As I walked by a young man standing in front of his home 
           wearing his desert camouflage waiting for his ride and 
           as I walked up to him he cradled his gun.
     And I couldn't help myself from asking ``What's your name 
           son?''

  Thank you, Bill, for your incredible tribute to our veterans, just as 
we prepare to mark Veterans Day in 2021 and honor the sacrifices they 
make on our behalf.

                          ____________________