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Welcome to the Keep McLennan County Beautiful Message Board |
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Share
your thoughts about Enduring Freedom:
A Regional Memorial To Liberty |
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Current Page 1
Go to Page - 1 |
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Name: |
Sherri Street |
Date: |
3/16/2007 |
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What a wonderful memorial this will be to our veterans and whose who lost their lives on 9/11! What a beautiful addition to our city and our county! What a fantastic educational tool for our schools! What a wonderful outing for families! THANK YOU, KEEP MCLENNAN COUNTY BEAUTIFUL! |
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Name: |
ROBERT CARTER |
Date: |
3/3/2006 |
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THIS PUTS IT ALL IN LINE.
daddy's girl
If this one doesn't bring a tear to your eye --- you don't have a heart
Daddy's Poem
Her hair was up in a pony tail,
her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
and she couldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her,
that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand,
if she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid;
she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates
of why he wasn't there today.
But still her mother worried,
for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again,
she tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school
eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees
a dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back,
for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
anxious in their seats
One by one the teacher called
a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,
as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name,
every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?"
she heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one,"
another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back,
she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
too busy to waste his day."
The words did not offend her,
as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher,
who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back,
slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child,
came words incredibly unique.
"My Daddy couldn't be here,
because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy,
and how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories
he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses,
and taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes,
and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him.
I'm not standing here alone.
"Cause my daddy's always with me,
even though we are apart
I know because he told me,
he'll forever be in my heart"
With that, her little hand reached up,
and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads,
her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,
who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love
of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
doing what was right.
And when she dropped her hand back down,
staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
but its message clear and loud.
"I love my daddy very much,
he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,
but heaven's just too far.
You see he was a policeman
and died just this past year
When airplanes hit the towers
and taught Americans to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes,
it's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes,
and saw him there that day.
And to her mothers amazement,
she witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children,
all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them,
who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,
they saw him at her side.
"I know you're with me Daddy,"
to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
of those once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it,
for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
by the love of her shining star.
And given the gift of believing,
that heaven is never too far.
They say it takes a minute to find a special
person, an hour to appreciate them,
a day to love them, but then an entire
life to forget them.
Send this to the people you'll never forget and
remember to send it also to the person that sent
it to you. It's a short message to let them know
that you'll never forget them.
If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're
in a hurry and that you've forgotten your
friends.
Take the time...to live and ! love.
Until eternity. God bless
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Name: |
ROBERT CARTER (POPEYE ) |
Date: |
3/3/2006 |
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I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR COMING UP WITH THIS IDEA OF SUPPORTING ALL WHO HAVE SERVED. THIS WILL BE A BEAUTIFUL MEMORIAL, THAT WE WILL BE PROUD TO HAVE OUR VFW POST 2034 ON ONE OF THE BRICKS.
COMMANDER
VFW POST 2034
ROBERT CARTER
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Name: |
Vicky Cohen |
Date: |
2/22/2006 |
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I am an Altrusan working to make sure the Enduring Freedom Memorial is a great success. The way I became involved with this project began in October, 2004. I worked at the Viet Nam Wall Experience in Waco. I will never be the same.
I had been to the Viet Nam Memorial in Washington, D.C., but the experience I had in Waco when Altrusa helped at the wall was completely different. It was personal, this was home. These were the same school children I might see crossing the streets on a blustery October day, but now I was able to help them find an uncle they had heard about, but had never got to meet because his name was on the wall. I was able to hand them a poppy to place on the wall or wreath in remembrance. At the same time I was serving my community by letting them see the women of Altrusa reading to little ones about the flag, or bringing late night supper for the vets who remained at the wall all night long to protect and to serve. Some could only approach the wall when there was darkness and quiet and no one to see them cry.
I had the honor to meet a lovely woman from San Antonio who had brought her daughter and grandson. She came to me in tears and thanked me after I had read an essay about how much America owes to fallen soldiers and their families, written by a 10th grader in Waco . Her daughter had never known her father. He died when she was only 1 month old. His name was on the wall.
But we also saw life continuing on in the fresh faces of the children who came into our tent to read or color while they waited for their parents as they visited the wall. It was all there. The old farmer who I helped find his son’s name on the wall. He had looked for 10 minutes but as I moved to his side to help him, the name truly jumped off the wall at me. As I pointed it out to him, a tear rolled down his face and a quiet thank you came from him. Then one of the Vets who had been in southeast Asia came and talked with him and never left his side till he was alright. The old farmer and the long haired biker now had a bond that would not break. Then there were the high school cool kids who were laughing and cutting up as they walked up and then somberly came back to us to help them find someone on the wall. Anyone. Maybe someone with their last name. It didn't matter, they wanted to be a part of it all. My heart burst to see some of them take poppies and place on the wreath as tribute.
Quite often during those 4 days, there was a WWII vet who came in and sat for a while in our tent. He had been a POW. He was a very kind man and seemed to enjoy us making over him too. We have learned he passed away this spring. Altrusa was lucky to have the opportunity to help teach the children of the area about these types of valiant men and women that served and still serve our country. We even had the opportunity to thank some children whose dads were serving in Iraq in the military at that moment.
I was not the driving force behind Altrusa International of Waco becoming involved with the Wall and the veteran’s projects we now have, but I have become a workhorse with our Operation Freedom. When you have passion for something, it is not just a project it is a true labor of love. The Wall Experience was the backdrop for Altrusa of Waco’s Make a Difference day…..I know it made a difference in many people’s life that day. It personally made a difference in me. I will never be the same.
Vicky Cohen
Altrusa International of Waco, Inc.
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Name: |
Parker Willson, Executive Director |
Date: |
2/21/2006 |
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Hello, and welcome to our message board. This board has been created so we and others can hear from you what Enduring Freedom means to you, what this Memorial means to you or anything else you care to share about Freedom and how valuable it is to you. You can also use this space to say thank you to those who have preserved and are preserving our Freedom, making it Enduring.
Again, welcome. We look forward to your sharing. |
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