Tribute To A Fallen Soldier

During the past 10 years, we've grown accustomed to hearing reports of the young men and women who have been killed in action in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.  When a fallen soldier happens to be from a neighboring community in the same county, it somehow takes on a more personal significance. 

Today all mourn the death of 20 year old Marine Colton Rusk who grew up in neighboring Orange Grove, TX.  Colton joined the Marines right after high school and was a bomb dog handler.  His parents were notified of his death early on Monday morning, but the Pentagon has not released the circumstances of his death.

The communities  of Orange Grove and Jim Wells County  mourn the death of this brave soldier.

United States Marine, Colton Rusk Killed in Afghanistan

Tribute To A Fallen Soldier

by James E Martin

A poem of reflection on some of America's best

A SOLDIER GAVE HIS LIFE TODAY,

AWAY FROM HOME, SO FAR AWAY.

HE HAD OFTEN WONDERED HOW IT WOULD END

AS HE, HIS ENERGY DID ALL EXPEND.

BACK AT HOME HIS FAMILY CANNOT BELIEVE

THOSE HORRID WORDS THEY HAD JUST RECEIVED.

SO YOUNG WAS HE, YET HOW HE HAD AGED

IN THOSE MANY MONTHS THE WAR HAD RAGED.

HE DIED KNOWING HE HAD DONE HIS BEST.

NOW HIS BODY WILL BE LAID TO REST.

WILL THE PRICE HE PAID BE REMEMBERED WELL?

WHAT WORDS WILL THEY HIS LOVED ONES TELL?

WILL A NATION’S GRATITUDE HIS FAMILY KNOW?

FOR THE DEVOTION TO DUTY HE DID SO BRAVELY SHOW.

HIS MEMORY WILL LIVE ON THOUGH HE BE GONE,

MAY HONOR AND RESPECT BE PROPERLY SHOWN.

Copyrighted 2007 by Dr. James E. Martin