[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 11376-11378]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE POEMS OF STUDENTS FROM RIDLEY HIGH SCHOOL, FOLSOM, PA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. CURT WELDON

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 2, 2004

  Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I had the great pleasure and 
honor to participate in the Ridley High School Memorial Day Program on 
May 28, 2004. I was presented with a very special compilation of poems 
composed by the students from Ridley High School's Advanced Placement 
American History/Honors English classes. The assignment was voluntary 
and those students, whose work is reflected here, searched their hearts 
for their feelings about America's military men and women. The result 
was a wonderful collection of poetry that expresses their pride and 
gratitude for those who make personal sacrifices to protect our 
freedoms and democracy.
  I join with these students in their continued support and 
appreciation for our troops at home and abroad. I hope my colleagues 
find both inspiration and gratitude in their words so beautifully 
expressed.

                            With Every Step

     With every step through your daily life
     Quietly, they whisper
     Whisper courage to the young children
     Playing under the warmth of the sun
     Whisper sacrifice to all
     Enjoying the freedom they provided.

     From their peaceful rest they whisper
     Going under with the honor of a nation
     And their love of country
     The willing force for freedom
     Makes the land of the free
     The home of the brave.

     In kind words, we whisper
     Do not forget the contributions
     Of our fallen countrymen
     In this time of terror
     They protect us still.

     Tabatha Sabatino
                                  ____


                                Our Suns

     Running laps, chasing circles, rounding wheels
     inside a mind fall back in time now
     answer questions, which before could change a life.
     Still inside is such a yearning once repressed in idol lines.
     Decisions made remain unchanged
     once again it's no surprise.

     Unending conflict risk of fears so unfair and still not right
     To rock the boat? To sink the boat? To loose the boat?
     To rise? As rise the sun and sons do rise
     before the settling of the matter
     What matters more won't make it right
     Forget what is right to love the latter.

     Sara Rothemel
                                  ____


                            Ordinary People

     War is not a poem I can write,
     There were men in marshes in Asia once
     Swallowing a lump in their throat
     and running through a steel, cold rain
     and we couldn't understand why.

     Peace is not an ideal blowing among the pollen
     from the windswept daisies.
     There were men trapped in foreign countries once
     battling for the freedom of oppressed people
     and assuring that America remained most free.

     Justice is not found in the barrel of a gun
     It is not found in a switch or an engine
     It is not in the hand of the person in control of any of 
           those
     It is in the name of intuition
     and belief in a system
     A whole
     One nation
     where most men have found freedom
     found a pursuit
     A man will step on the battlefield as a soldier
     the hero of middle America
     and return to his home
     his job, and his life
     like an ordinary man

     our nation is watched over
     by the vigilance, the gunshots,
     the air patrol, the patience,
     the dedication and discipline
     of ordinary people.

     Kim Leszak
                                  ____


                              The Soldier

     The American soldier emits an ineffable presence
     To represent our country and to be revered
     He holds his duties with a profound dignity
     And sacrifices his character to defend our country
     He witnesses battles, and scourges, and deaths
     And gambles himself to defend our freedom
     His mission should be respected by all
     As he aims to keep safety for our American future.

     Chris Gross
                                  ____


                         My Daddy Was a Sailor

     The little boy had found the trunk
     Hidden beneath the bed
     And when he opened the dusty lock

[[Page 11377]]

     Old visions filled his head.

     He saw his father's picture
     He was dressed in starchy white
     He saw the ship that carried him
     And his eyes filled with fright
     He picked up all the medals
     As his eyes filled with tears
     For his father had died long ago
     And he had forgotten all these years
     He admired his father's bravery
     For he knew the story well
     His father protected his honor
     It is a story he loves to tell

     ``My daddy was a sailor
     He wore his chevrons proud
     And though he cannot tell you
     He made us safe and sound
     My daddy gave his life
     Fighting for our country
     And I think it's safe to say
     His virtues are in me.
     I want to serve my country
     I want to stand up tall
     I want to be like my daddy
     I want that most of all.''

     The little boy grew up that day
     He became a sailor too
     He know the dangers facing him
     But his honor was brave and true.
     He will pass on the glory
     That his father gave to him
     He will fight for our country's honor
     He will be there through thick and thin.
     I want you to know I serve my country
     Not because I have to
     I do it because I love being free
     I hope it is important to you.

     Jessyca Allen
                                  ____


                           American Soldiers

     The sun shines on a distant land
     American soldiers arise to the surrounding sand.
     The heat is great, the sun is hot,
     But they still fight with all they've got.

     They think of home, warm and free
     The yellow flags that line the street
     The hopes and prayers from family and friends
     Reminds them that their efforts do not go unnoticed.

     But we as a nation must continue to show
     Support for our troops both near and far
     And though it's dirty,
     We must not forget the war.

     Brianne Brennan
                                  ____


                             Why They Fight

     They fight for a simple word
     Engrained within our past
     They leave their lives and families
     To protect our cherished land.
     Leaving behind everything familiar
     These individuals unknown to the masses.

     But continue on for us,
     We Americans.
     Our fearless, proud defenders return
     Our simple idea is still safe
     Our simple, single idea.
     They defended the meaning of America
     With their valor, bravery and honor.
     They fight to protect our freedom.

     Jeanne Fasello
                                  ____


                                  War

     Many things represent war and what it means to America today.
     Each citizen is touched by war and affected in a different 
           way.
     Young men are called to battle and learn to fight with pride.
     They learn to support their country despite the fears they 
           hold inside.
     Husbands and fathers uphold their duties and kiss their 
           family goodbye.
     Even though their wives grow worried and their children begin 
           to cry.
     Little boys play happily with toy guns and G.I. Joes
     Dreaming of the day that they can waltz in their camouflage 
           clothes.
     Women and girls begin to step up and defend us with their 
           hearts.
     Eventually the country will unify in war and everyone will 
           take part.
     Even the ones who stay at home offer support with the small 
           things they do.
     They hang up yellow ribbons and waves flags of red, white and 
           blue.
     It is through these American symbols and citizens,
     Supportive and courageous, that makes the fighting worth it,
     No matter how dangerous.
     We are all Americans, all sacrificing and standing tall.
     In times of war our country proudly sings their patriotic 
           song.
     So let us take the time to recognize the brave on this 
           Memorial Day
     For they will always be remembered as heroes in every way.

     Meaghan Shinkle
                                  ____


                            One Lonely Star

     One lonely star.
     All alone in the front window,
     Five blue points bursting from a white ocean,
     Outlined with a red bank,
     Yellow ribbon holds it in place,
     So they may return home safe.

     She sees her son out the door;
     One final kiss
     Good-bye.
     Her motherly instincts straighten the uniform,
     And she stares, pride filling her heart.
     Her eyes fall to her other son,
     And she wishes that he too would become such a man,

     That fateful day.
     Two pillars of strength--
     Gone.
     Destruction, Confusion, Fear
     What's to come? ,

     The news comes, as everyone knew it would.
     War.
     But will he go?
     Yes.

     She cries, her baby all grown up.
     He's no longer her baby,
     He's her Hero, her Protector, her Strength.

     Letters come faithfully.
     But her nerves are never calmed
     Negative newscasts--fodder for fear,
     She prays her star not turn gold.

     One lonely star,
     All alone in the front window,
     Five blue points bursting from a white ocean,
     Outlined with a red bank,
     Yellow ribbon holds it in place.
     May they return home safe.

     Chrissy Stief
                                  ____


                          I'll Walk Beside You

      I'll walk along beside you
      and sometimes take your hand,
      as you suffer for my innocence
      and I'll grasp a bit tighter
      as you die for my smile.

      I still don't know your name
      but I am a close friend with happiness,
      Though we have never met
      you introduced me to Hope
      Who had always been shy before.

      And Pride, elusive as always,
      is a mutual companion we can share.
      You know pride through sacrifice
      and your sacrifice helped familiarize me with Pride.

      One day we will meet,
      at a party I suspect,
      and though we have never seen each other
      I'll know you.
      I'll know you protected me millions of times
      for I can see myself in every person I meet,
      though we are not familiar.

      But we all know you, a still and silent soldier
      who bears the scars of our freedom.

     Colleen Beatty
                                  ____


                           Memorial Memories

      Gazing out of my window, wondering,
      Looking at the differences abounding,
      From luscious, green, growing trees
      To uniform streets connecting.
      How did all of this happen?

      America bears certain freedoms.
      Having to sustain our personal gains,
      We have to fight for our protected rights.
      So, we continue to live remembering the fight.

      Needing pride to stop the vain,
      We have to remember those living and dead.
      Who have given their lives for the cause of freedom
      Our lives continue to flourish because of our veterans and 
           fighting soldiers.

     Shaleen Spuglio
                                  ____


                               The Warrior

      As he charges shield raised
      Into the midst of battle
      He remembers those who fought before
      Gallantly dying in order to save the lives of others.

      Woe though death's bite is strong
      And quick on their mortal bodies,
      The pure passion of battle carries their bodies like a 
           trance,
      Cutting down any opposition in his way.

      Warrior, you are stronger than I,
      For you fight for a cause much greater than mine,

     David Benner
                                  ____


                       Freedom on Your Shoulders

      We are the shadows,
      The whispers on the wind
      Of one lost
      For a sea of triumph.

      We are the ants
      Marching in a line
      To harvest a field of freedom
      For you.

      We are the giants
      And freedom rests upon our shoulders.

     Cynthia Casebere
                                  ____


                             Our Protectors

      The Fates, the three
      Hunched over in wait
      With the cord spinning
      The color of dried blood and trench mud
      The color of years sacrificed
      The cord, the thread keeps spinning
      And another generation is tugged by it into the loop.
      Becoming protectors around our naked spool
      Barely missing the cool, hard scissors

[[Page 11378]]

      That threatens courageous souls.

     Adrienne Showalter
                                  ____
                                  

                          ____________________