Dennis Haines (front), Tom Reilly, Ray Heikkila, John Valle
Memorial Day, 2005

UNITED AGAIN

They walked the rice paddies of Viet Nam
Faced the enemy hand in hand
A bond forged in the hell of war
One that would remain forevermore

All he saw was a flash of light
The chopper flew him into the night
Would they ever stand together again
When this hellish war came to an end

Many years later they united again
At a memorial erected for all of them
Surrounding the friend who fought to survive
Memorial Day two thousand and five

They shared stories of their time in hell
That each of them remembered all too well
They touched the names of the ones who died
And wondered why they were the ones who survived

Their image reflected in grey granite stone
With the names of their buddies who didn't come home
Hands on the outside and hands from within
Brothers and heroes united again.

©Copyright June 2, 2005 by Mary E. Rogers

Bobbie (The Weather Girl), Tom Reilly, Dennis Haines,
Jimmy LaManna, Holley Watts, John Valle, Ray Heikkila
Memorial Day, 2005

Awarded: June 3, 2005