THE WALL THE WALL STANDS, A TESTAMENT ETCHED IN GRANITE AND STONE TO PAY HONOR AND REMEMBER THOSE BRAVE HEROES OF DAYS GONE BY. IT IS NOT THERE MERELY AS A STOP ON A BUS TOUR, BUT TO ASSURE THAT THIS BRETHREN WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. ITS EBONY FACE IS COVERED IN GLASS IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE NAMES OF THE FALLEN AND TO REFLECT THE HAUNTING IMAGES OF THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORE A BADGE OF COURAGE AND THE UNIFORM OF THEIR BRANCH. WE SHOULD EACH OF US, OFFER A PRAYER OF THANKS THAT THEY WERE STANDING FIRM AND TRUE ON MANY A WALL, SO THAT WE WOULD SLEEP SAFELY IN THE SHELTER OF OUR HOMES AND OUR BEDS. REST WILL WITH THE ANGELS, FOR WE WILL NEVER FORGET THE SACRIFICES YOU ENDURED FOR OUR FREEDOMS. POW's PRISONERS, SOLDIERS, LOST SOULS LOCKED IN A WORLD, INDEED A BATTLE OF FEAR THAT NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO SEE. THEIR SCREAMS MUFFLED, THEY FALL ON DEAF EARS. THE SMELL OF BLOOD COVER THE WALLS THAT CAGE THEM. BUT NO WORSE, ARE THE NIGHTMARES THAT WILL HAUNT THEIR THOUGHTS AS NIGHT ENFOLDS THEM. WE DON'T SEE THE TORTURES THEY ENDURE; OUR EYES SHIELDED FROM THEIR REALITY, WE CLOSE THEM TO PROTECT OUR OWN SANITY. BUT I CAN STILL HEAR THE CRACKING OF THEIR SOULS. THEIR PAIN IS REAL. LET THEM EXIST AS WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO NEVER MADE IT HOME. SOLDIER'S GIRL A SOLDIER'S GIRL, SHE IS ONE WOMAN WITH MANY FACES. TENACIOUS, DRIVING ONWARD DAY BY DAY BECAUSE SHE STILL HAS RESPONSIBILITIES. NO TIME TO BREAK DOWN. SHE PROUDLY HANGS A FLAG ON HER DOOR AND WEARS A "SAVE OUR TROOPS" WRIST BAND, VOWING LIKE A BAND OF GOLD,THAT AS A SYMBOL OF FAITH, THIS WILL IN SOMEWAY SEE HIM HOME ONE MORE TIME AGAIN. IN HER KITCHEN SHE MAKES HIS FAVORITE MEALS, KEEPING HIM IN THE FOREFRONT OF HER MIND, AND ON THOSE NIGHTS THAT THOUGHTS OF HIM TAKES OVER HER WEARY MIND, SHE CAN BE FOUND TAKING IN THE SCENT OF HIS SHIRTS, AND EXING THE DAYS OFF THE CALENDAR UNTIL THAT MOST CHERISHED LEAVE. A SOLDIER'S GIRL LOOKS NO DIFFERENT TO SEE HER ON THE STREET, BECAUSE WE ARE EVERYWHERE. A HOMEFRONT HERO IN HER OWN RIGHT. IN THE STILL, AND SEEMINGLY ENDLESS NIGHT, SHE CAN BE FOUND PRAYING TO GOD AND HIS ANGELS TO BRING HER HERO HOME TO THE COMFORT OF HER ARMS. SHE STANDS ON THE SIDELINES, TO BRING STRENGTH AND SHEER WILL TO THE SOLDIER SHE CALLS HER OWN, ON THE FRONTLINES. GOD PROTECT US, AND MAY WE NEVER HAVE TO SEE THAT CHAPLAIN AT OUR FRONT DOOR, WITH THAT FOLDED FLAG WE FEAR SO MUCH. Jennifer McDonald.