Jack Buck's poem as read at
Busch Stadium on Sept. 17, 2001

Since this nation was founded ... under God
More than 200 years ago
We have been the bastion of freedom
The light that keeps the free world aglow
We do not covet the possessions of others
We are blessed with the bounty we share
We have rushed to help other nations ... anything ... anytime ... anywhere
War is just not our nature
We won't start ... but we will end the fight
If we are involved, we shall be resolved
To protect what we know is right
We have been challenged by a cowardly foe
Who strikes and then hides from our view
With one voice we say, "There is no choice today,
There is only one thing to do"
Everyone is saying -- the same thing -- and praying
That we end these senseless moments we are living
As our fathers did before ... we shall win this unwanted war
And our children ... will enjoy the future ... we'll be giving.

This was found on the Simon Says Messageboard.  It was forwarded to an Army MP's wife yesterday, and it's from a young marine in Kuwait and his Unit from 3rd Batallion 2nd Marines. If you can copy and paste this and send it to anyone you know who is rioting against these soldiers... Just a view from the front lines...

We received a letter from our son who by now is in Iraq somewhere and after hearing about the protesters in the states He wrote a poem to these
people trying to express all the guys' feelings. I want to share this with everyone and ask that they pass it on so that maybe the American people
will understand.

Wish you were here

For all the free people that still protest
your welcome, we protect you,
and your protected by the best.

Your voice is strong and loud
but who will fight for you
no one standing in your crowd.

We are fathers, brothers and sons,
wearing the boots and carrying the guns.
We are the ones that leave all we own,
to make sure your future is carved in stone.

We are the ones who fight and die,
we might not be able to save the world,
well, at least we try.

We walked the paths to where we are at,
and we want no choice other than that.
so when you rally your group to complain,
take a good look in the back of your brain.

In order for that flag you love to fly,
wars must be fought and young men must die.
We came here to fight for the ones we hold dear,
if that's not respected, we would rather stay here.

So please stop yelling and put down your signs,
and pray for those behind enemy lines.
When the conflict is over and all is well,
be thankful that we chose to go through hell.

Corporal Joshua Miles and all the boys from
3rd. Battalion, 2nd Marines, Kuwait.

The following words were spoken by the late Red Skelton on his television program as he related the story of his teacher, Mr. Laswell, who felt his students had come to think of the Pledge of Allegiance as merely something to recite in class each day.

Now, more than ever, listen to the meaning of these words.

"I've been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester

and it seems as though it is becoming monotonous to you.

If I may, may I recite it and try to explain to you the meaning of each word?"

I

me, an individual, a committee of one.

Pledge

dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self pity.

Allegiance

my love and my devotion.

To the flag

our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever

she waves, there's respect because your loyalty has given

her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's job!

United

that means that we have all come together.

States

individual communities that have united into 48 great states.

Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and

purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to

a common purpose, and that's love for country.

And to the republic

a state in which sovereign power is

invested in representatives chosen by the

people to govern. And government is the people

and it's from the people to the leaders, not from

the leaders to the people.

For which it stands, one nation

one nation, meaning "so

blessed by God"

Indivisible

incapable of being divided.

With liberty

which is freedom -- the right of power to live one's

own life without threats, fear or some sort of

retaliation.

And Justice

the principle or quality of dealing fairly with others.

For all

which means, boys and girls, it's as much your

country as it is mine.

***~~**~~***

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country

and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance...

UNDER GOD

Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said

that is a prayer

and that would be eliminated from schools too?

God Bless America!