In Their Own Words

My Son, My Hero
 
I hear the people say you are a hero
But it’s hard for me to think of you that way.
For when I close my eyes and see you in my mind,
I only see my little boy and that is how you’ll stay.
 
The uniform you wear today is different from the rest,
But reminds me of the other uniforms you’ve worn in the past.
You loved karate and sports, and worked so hard in Scouts.
All those little boy uniforms were put away much too fast.
 
I hear the flapping of the flag as it hangs there in the wind.
Again, I close my eyes and let the rhythm take me back.
There you are on stage with all the other kids from class;
Almost falling off the stand and giving me a heart attack.
 
When you were home on leave I’d sometimes hear you sing Cadence.
The words were different in your song but the voice was strong and clear.
You grew up and flew the nest even though I tried to hold on to you tight.
Wish I could have protected you more; could have kept you always near.
 
I hear the music drifting as if it’s coming from a far off land.
It’s way different from the rock and roll you’d have blasting in the car.
Sometimes I’d have to yell at you to turn your stereo down
But I wish I would of saved up all that noise in a jar to open up
And let some out in these quiet days when no one is around.
 
I hate that there is no more places that we must rush to be.
No more stages for you to walk across or sounds for you to make.
I hate I had to let you go and live so far away.
I hate an enemies’ bullet from you your life did take.
 
I pray you are in Heaven now with other soldier angels.
And as I try to leave vengeance in the hands of God,
I say to you, “You will never be forgotten, my son, my hero,
Even though you now rest beneath this sod.”
 
I will always love you…..
 
© Laurel Olmsted
6/22/2006
Dedicated to all our Heroes who will always be their mothers’ sons.
Proud Mom of Three--Grandmom to Five
Founder--Military Family Support Group
Chapter Writer--"Walking With Heroes"

____________________________________________________________

I Pray to God

I pray to God that you never have to do what I have done
I pray to God that you never have to see what I have seen
I pray to God that you never have to kill another man as I have had to
 
I pray to God that you never have to watch your friends get wounded
I pray to God that you never have to watch your friends get maimed
I pray to God that you never have to watch your friends get killed
 
I pray to God that you never have to feel what its like to have a bullet enter your body
I pray to God that you never have to look at your leg and know you will never walk on it again
I pray to God that you never have to look at where your arm was and wonder where it is now
 
I pray to God that you never have to wonder if the medic is going to make it in time
I pray to God that you never have to wonder what you did wrong that got you shot
I pray to God that you never have to wonder if your actions got your friends killed
 
I pray to God that your parents never have to go through nights not knowing if you are alive
I pray to God that your parents never get that notice that you have been wounded
I pray to God that your parents never see that Notification team walking up the driveway
I pray to God that your parents never find out you were killed

By: JOE TOLEDO
SGT USMC 1987 - 1993
SGT US ARMY 1993 -2000

====================================================

WHO AM I

WHO AM I
I AM YOUR BROTHER
I AM YOUR SISTER
I AM YOUR COUSIN
I AM YOUR SON
I AM YOUR DAUGHTER
I AM YOUR FRIEND

WHO AM I
I AM A SAILOR
I ENSURE THE WORLDS WATERS ARE SAFE
I PATROL AND DEFEND MY NATIONS COASTLINE

WHO AM I
I AM AN AIRMAN
I ENSURE THE WORLDS SKY'S ARE SAFE
I PATROL AND DEFEND MY NATIONS AIRSPACE

WHO AM I
I AM A MARINE
I AM MY NATIONS QUICK REACTION FORCE
I TAKE THE OBJECTIVE AND HOLD IT TIL RELIEVED

WHO AM I
I AM A SOLDIER
I DEFEND MY NATION FROM THOSE WHO ATTACK US
I TAKE THE OBJECTIVE AND HOLD IT TIL RELIEVED

I DONT ASK YOU TO UNDERSTAND
FOR I KNOW YOU NEVER TRULY WILL
THE SAYING SAYS THAT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR IT
FREEDOM HAS A TASTE THE PROTECTED WILL NEVER KNOW

I DO HOWEVER ASK THAT YOU RESPECT MY LIFE
AND WHAT I DID SHOULD I FALL WHILE DEFENDING MY COUNTRY
DONT USE ME FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL GAIN OR AGENDA
DOING SO CHEAPENS MY DEATH AND THE IDEALS FOR WHICH I DIED

I FIGHT, KILL AND DIE FOR YOU
THAT YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO DO WHAT I HAVE HAD TO DO
THAT YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO SEE WHAT I HAVE HAD TO SEE
THAT YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO KILL ANOTHER AS I HAVE HAD TO

I DO NOT ENJOY KILLING
I DO NOT ENJOY WATCHING MY FRIENDS GET WOUNDED, MAIMED AND KILLED
I SURE AS HELL DO NOT ENJOY DIEING

I FEEL EVERY SINGLE DEATH OF A MILITARY MEMBER
THEY ARE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
EVERY TIME ONE OF THEM DIES I FEEL THE LOSS

TRY AND REMEMBER TO SAY THANK YOU AS YOU SEE ME WALK PAST AND
UNDERSTAND WHEN I SAY ITS NOT NECESSARY
I DO WHAT I DO BECAUSE I WANT TO
NOT BECAUSE SOMEONE MADE ME
I SAID I WOULD AND I WILL

WHO AM I
I AM YOUR BROTHER
I AM YOUR SISTER
I AM YOUR COUSIN
I AM YOUR SON
I AM YOUR DAUGHTER
I AM YOUR FRIEND
I AM A MEMBER OF THE ARMED SERVICES

JOE TOLEDO
SGT USMC 87 -93
SGT CA US ARMY 93-2000
SRGNTJOE@AOL.COM

=======================================================
THIS POEM IS DEDICATED TO

CPL JEREMY GRAHAM, AUSTRALIAN ARMY, 4TH RAR (CMDO) WAS LOST TO HIS
BROTHERS RECENTLY WHILE SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN. HE LEAVES BEHIND A WIFE AND
2 DAUGHTERS. THIS POEM IS WRITTEN FOR HIM.

FALLEN WARRIOR

A WARRIOR FELL TODAY
HOW HE IS REMEMBERED IS UP TO YOU
HOW WILL YOU REMEMBER HM?

WILL YOU REMEMBER THE WARRIOR?
WILL YOU REMEMBER THE HUSBAND?
WILL YOU REMEMBER THE FATHER?
WILL YOU REMEMBER THE SON?
WILL YOU REMEMBER THE BROTHER?
WILL YOU REMEMBER THE FRIEND?

THE WARRIOR STOOD BEFORE YOU
AND DEFLECTED DANGER BEFORE IT GOT TO YOU
HE DIDNT ASK FOR YOUR THANKS
HE DIDNT ASK FOR YOUR PRAISE
IT WAS SECOND NATURE TO HIM
THAT THIS DAY MIGHT HAPPEN WAS BEFORE HIM
AND STILL HE STOOD THERE

THE HUSBAND WAS THE MAN WHO LOVED HIS WIFE
HE TOO STOOD BEFORE HER AND DEFLECTED DANGER FROM HER
IT WAS SECOND NATURE TO HIM, HE DID IT WITHOUT THINKING
HER LOVE FOR HIM WAS ALL THE THANKS HE EVER NEEDED
HE LOVED TO MAKE HER HAPPY

THE FATHER WATCHED AFTER HIS CHILDREN
HE WATCHED THEM LIKE A WOLF PROTECTING ITS LITTER
DELIGHTING IN THIER SMILES AND LAUGHTER
HE ENJOYED PLAYING WITH THEM AND MAKING THEM HAPPY
HE MADE SURE THEY HAD THE BEST HE COULD AFFORD
GOING WITHOUT HIMSELF TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL
TEACHING THEM RIGHT AND WRONG, WATCHING THEM GROW

THE SON WAS THE MAN WHO MADE HIS PARENTS PROUD
HE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR THEM
THEY REJOICED IN ALL HE DID, THEY HELPED HIM GROW
THEY WATCHED HIM TRANSFORM INTO A MAN RIGHT BEFORE THIER EYES
MOVING FROM BABY TO LITTLE BOY TO TEEN AND INTO MAN
HE LOVED SEEING HIS PARENTS HAPPY AND ALWAYS DID HIS BEST
WHAT HE WAS AND WHAT HE STOOD FOR MADE THEM PROUD

THE BROTHER WAS THE MAN WHO WATCHED AFTER HIS SIBLINGS
HE PLAYED WITH THEM AND BICKERED WITH THEM AS WELL
THEY DIDNT ALWAYS AGREE BUT THEY LOVED EACH OTHER
HE STRIVED TO HELP THEM, AND THEY STROVE TO HELP HIM
HE LOVED TO BE AROUND THEM AND MISSED THEM WHEN HE COULDNT BE THERE
THIER BOND NO ONE COULD BREAK

THE FRIEND WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU
YOU COULD COUNT ON HIM IN A PINCH
CALL HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND HE ALWAYS ANSWERED
HE WAS THERE WHEN YOU NEEDED A SHOULDER TO CRY ON
HE WAS THERE TO CELEBRATE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
HE BACKED YOU UP WHEN YOU GOT IN OVER YOUR HEAD
AND ASKED FOR NOTHING IN RETURN

WHICH PART OF HIM WILL YOU REMEMBER
I CHOOSE TO REMEMBER THEM ALL
EACH AND EVERY PART MADE HIM WHAT HE WAS
I NEVER MET HIM BUT A BROTHER TO ME HAS BEEN LOST
HE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED
MY BROTHER HAS FALLEN BUT HE IS NOT FORGOT

JOE TOLEDO
SGT USMC 1987 - 1993
SGT US ARMY 1993 -2000
=========================================================
"SO THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO"

Six simple words that convey so much, I never personally knew the man
who spoke them, but in reading them my passion for writing once again
has stirred.

Why did I join the military?
Why did I give up an easy life?
Why did I swear to protect my nation?

SO THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO

Why did give up my life for so many years?
Why did I leave my parents and brothers and sisters at home?
Why do I leave my newlywed wife at home?
Why did I leave my children at home?

SO THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO

Why do I put my life on the line for people I dont even know?
Why am I willing to sacrifice my life?
Why did i go over to Iraq?
Why did I die?

SO THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO

A lot of people dont understand why
Some cant fathom it at all
The simplest reason I can give you is this

"SO THAT YOU DONT HAVE TO"

This is the answer Lcpl Lopez would give his friends when asked why he
was going over to Iraq
Lcpl Hugo R. Lopez USMC
WIA Nov. 20 2005
Died Jan 27 2006 from his wounds

Lcpl Lopez is survived by his mother, his brother and his sister

FALLEN BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
RIP BROTHER

JOE TOLEDO
SGT USMC 1987 - 1993
SGT US ARMY 1993 - 2000

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