[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11647]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      THOSE MEMORIES SHOULD NOT BE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 5, 2009

  Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I would like to submit the following 
poem by Mary-Ann S. Stanky of Cleveland, Ohio:

                      Those Memories Should Not Be

     Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!
     Said the new enlistee
     A new defender of democracy
     Salute, stand tall, and be proud.
     Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

     In line with his comrades
     Wearing alike uniforms
     Issued a gun to defend democracy.
     We are ready!
     Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

     Turning a corner. . . .
     Rapid bursts of gunfire, from where?
     Shouts from everywhere
     Roof tops, windows noise all-around
     Heads swirling left to right, up and down.

     Quiet . . . an eerie quiet finally descends
     Labored breathing
     Eyes burning red, mouths dry,
     Ears ringing from uncommon sounds
     Minds fighting to stay in control.

     Streaks of red trickle down, blood?
     Look again, no!
     Look again, yes!
     Blood spills from open wounds
      medic!
     There! go there! hurry!

     Pick-up the gun
     Defender of democracy

     My friend has gone home to a
     Flag flying half-mast.
     --Mary-Ann S. Stanky

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