Category Archives: Patriotic

“Smoky”

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In the jungles deep and wide,  
Where mysteries and dangers hide,  
A tiny soul was found inside  
A foxhole, where she did abide.

Smoky, of the Yorkshire breed,  
Tiny, but mighty in deed.  
In World War II, a friend in need,  
A soldier's companion, lead by creed.

For $6.44, a bond was sold,  
Between a Corporal brave and bold,  
And Smoky, whose story would unfold,  
In battles fierce and nights so cold.

She lived a life of soldier's fare,  
Shared meals, and slept in Wynne's care.  
No official badge did she wear,  
Yet her courage was beyond compare.

Twelve missions high, in backpack stowed,  
Above the clouds, her spirit glowed.  
150 air raids, the danger sowed,  
Yet by her side, safety flowed.

She warned of shells, a guardian light,  
In darkest hours, a beacon bright.  
Her heart, her spirit, fierce in fight,  
Guiding through the perilous night.

A performer too, with tricks to show,  
Entertaining troops, a morale bow.  
In hospitals, her presence would glow,  
Healing hearts, with her spirited flow.

Back to the U.S., hidden away,  
In an oxygen mask, she made her stay.  
Her legacy, in hearts, would sway,  
Entertaining, healing, every day.

For ten more years, she gave her love,  
To veterans, with a grace from above.  
Her life, a testament, to the power of  
The smallest being, with the heart of a dove.

Smoky, the first Therapy Dog, named,  
In history, her legacy framed.  
A tiny warrior, fiercely acclaimed,  
Her spirit, forever untamed.

So remember the dog who braved the fight,  
With soldiers, through the darkest night.  
Her courage, love, and shining light,  
A beacon of hope, forever bright.

February 16, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Let love Be Our War

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In unity's embrace, we boldly stand,
A creed that shapes both heart and land.
Divided, we falter, together, we soar,
A timeless truth from ancient lore.

Not for self, but for all, we give,
In service's call, we truly live.
"What can I do?" not "What I receive,"
A mantra for all who believe.

As Jesus for us, His life did pay,
A debt of love we can never repay.
Yet in His steps, we can proceed,
To serve, to love, to plant the seed.

Love, the adhesive for every split seam,
Holding together life's complex dream.
Without its bond, we drift apart,
But with it, we mend every heart.

The change we seek in the world around,
Within our own hearts, must be found.
Starting with me, a ripple in the pond,
Echoing out to the bonds beyond.

Not by the saber is true war won,
But by love's power, shining as the sun.
Where love abounds, conflict ceases to be,
In its warm embrace, we are truly free.

So let us walk in love's unending light,
Turning every wrong to right.
In every action, let love be our war,
For where there is love, there is no war.

February 3, 2024
Created by
MarkWaldrop

A Dream Unfolding

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In the shadow of Lincoln, a dream was declared,  
A dream deeply rooted in the American dream.  
"We hold these truths to be self-evident," he shared,  
"That all men are created equal," his enduring theme.

In the sweltering heat of injustice and oppression,  
A dream of freedom arose, refusing to wilt.  
A dream that one day, without concession,  
The sons of former slaves and slave owners could stand, guiltlessly built.

He dreamed that his children,  
In a nation where they'd not be judged by skin,  
Would unite in brotherhood, a new beginning,  
In the symphony of freedom, a harmonious kin.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring,  
From every city and hamlet, the dreamers sing.  
With this faith, we carve a path, a new day to bring,  
Joining hands, black and white together, freedom's bell to ring.

"We will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope,"  
With courage, we stand, with our dream, we cope.  
With this faith, we face the uncertainties of the slope,  
And in unity, we find the strength to grope.

From the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire,  
To the mighty mountains of New York,  
Let freedom ring, our dream declare,  
Until justice rolls down like water, in our tireless work.

January 15, 2023
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Taken from Martin Luther King Jr.’s
 “I Have a Dream” speech

Boston Tea Party

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   British tea cast adrift

In sixteen seventy-three, in Boston's embrace,
A protest arose, a bold act took place.
Colonists, weary of taxation's cruel sting,
Against British rule, in defiance, they'd swing.

December's chill graced the Boston night,
A harbor scene painted in revolutionary light.
No representation, yet taxes so steep,
Fueled a rebellion, no longer asleep.

Three hundred forty-two chests in the sea,
British tea cast adrift, a powerful decree.
No submission to acts that unjustly bind,
The Boston Tea Party, a mark on the mind.

An echo resounded through history's halls,
A catalyst brewing for liberty's calls.
In the lead-up to revolution's solution,
This act stood strong, a fervent contribution.

December 9, 2023
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Solemn words

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On December 7, the winds of fate did blow,
A date engraved in history's somber glow.
Infamy struck, a nation held its breath,
President Roosevelt spoke, declaring death.

In solemn words, a nation stirred,
Echoes of war, a call to be heard.
Through the pain, courage would rise,
A nation united, with tear-filled eyes.

Roosevelt's voice, a beacon strong,
In the face of darkness, a resolve prolonged.
A date remembered, in history's decree,
December 7, 1941, echoes eternally.

Created by
MarkWaldrop

248TH USMC BIRTHDAY

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United States Marine Corps Flag
    248TH USMC BIRTHDAY

In the crucible of history, for 248 years strong,
Marines stand united, a legacy that's long.
From Belleau Wood's echoes to Inchon's shore,
In blood, sweat, and sacrifice, honor they bore.

Heroes like Woody Williams, Cafferata, and Daly,
In the heat of battle, their deeds spoke bravely.
Shoulders we stand on, their courage our guide,
Earn our title "Marine" with each rising tide.

From the Great War's trenches to battles untold,
Marines fought for freedom, courageous and bold.
In Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East's call,
They answered with valor, they gave their all.

A life of service, of sacrifice profound,
In mud-covered uniforms, honor is found.
To be first to fight, the mission we embrace,
Choosing the path that others might not face.

In war's shadow, Marines relentlessly train,
Excellence our standard, to endure the pain.
From sea to land, we rise and return,
Our unique culture, a flame that'll forever burn.

Sergeant Major Ruiz and I stand with pride,
In this past year's feats, our strength amplified.
Every Marine, active, reserve, and vet,
Uphold our standards, a duty we won't forget.

Protect your kin, preserve the legacy we share,
Happy Birthday, Marines, in unity declare.
With "Ooh Rah" echoing, let our spirits soar,
For 248 years strong, and many more.

Taken from 
A MESSAGE FROM THE
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE
CORPS
General Eric M. Smith

November 10, 2023
Created by
MarkWaldrop

Prayer and Politics

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Prayer, not politics I heard the Speaker of the House say
It’s been too long coming waiting day after day

All the mass confusion and turmoil will this lessen or go away
If we fervently turn toward God and earnestly begin to Pray

There is only one way to discover if it will make our sadness leave
Putting  into practice what we preach and pray we will less grieve

Pray for Godly men and women desiring to serve our country for you and me
Through such Godly men and women, Our Country will surely remain Free

October 27, 2023
MarkWaldrop

Sounds of Freedom

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There are many sounds of Freedom ringing in my ears today
The thunderous sounds of jet engines as they fly away

The sounds of peace calm my fears
Sounds are welcome music to my ears

Sounds of Heavenly Music that enter my soul
Hearing the Golden Bells of Heaven as they toll

All of these wondrous sounds set me free
Knowing that God's Love forever lives in me

October 21, 2023
MarkWaldrop