A Poem For Veterans

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Story Published: Nov 12, 2006 at 10:52 AM PST

Story Updated: Nov 12, 2006 at 10:52 AM PST

By Autumn Coleman

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In honor of Veteran's Day, Clarkston High School held an assembly late last week, put on by the Junior ROTC program.

One member of the ROTC unit decided she wanted to contribute something special this year.

"I came home late one night from work," said Senior JROTC member Teal Schutzius. "And I was just thinking about the Veterans Day assembly and what it meant to everybody and what it was going to mean to the people in the audience. Because I know a lot of people with parents and grandparents in the military and we also have a lot of teachers that are veterans. I just wanted something that, I don't know, would really bring a memory back to their minds."

To accomplish that, Schutzius wrote this poem:

"As I lay down to sleep, I see his face. He is smiling. He tells me how he loves me and of all his tragedies.

He grabs my hand. He stares at the whiteness of my uniform. He touches the red cross. I return his gaze, looking at the brokenness of his body. He looks shattered, but yet he is whole. He starts to weep. His grip tightens.

He tells me of his dreams, of adventure, of a family, of a life. He tells me, the adventure - it came true.

I ask him if he's sad. He replies no. 'For I have just achieved the greatest life of all. People will be free. People will sing. People will dance. People will laugh because of me.'

His hands dropped. His eyes slowly closed. And looking down, I saw the smile on his face. And tears filled my eyes.

And he was just one. Just one brave, courageous soldier, like all the rest who opened their hearts to my ears.

I sleep in peace. I am free. I am me, because of him and those like him. My brave courageous soldier, thank you. And thank you to those like you.

You've done more than you will ever know."

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