Because you died for me
I will do my best
To be my best.
I will not squander my chance,
To live free.
To live with choice.
To honor your service and your memory.
Because you died for me
I will appreciate
The full life I have.
I will not belittle your sacrifice
By belittling my country
Or spoiling the greatness you believed in.
Because you died for me
I will learn what I can
Of what you went through,
What you suffered,
And what your family lost.
I will not turn my eyes from the lessons before me,
Or behind me.
Because you died for me
I will live in my country with gratitude for it’s very existence
Owed to you.
And your duty and your honor.
Because you died for me
Thank you is not enough.
Because you died for me
I must live with dignity
For the country you believed in.
And died for.
Because you died for me
I live free.
*
*
Thank you United States of America’s Veterans Past and Present
I will do my best to not take advantage of your sacrifice. But honor it with living well for this country.
The Chatter Blog 
My gosh, Chatter Master. How humbling to read such great words about our military men and women who perished for our country and freedom. It is tremendously moving and for me, without equal. Such poetry…and honor.
Thank you.
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Thank You Koji, it’s the one I wrote you about saying I had it ready for Memorial Day. After I read one of your posts. I didn’t want to try and rush something off.
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Reblogged this on Masako and Spam Musubi and commented:
Such honor and reverence in these humbling words…
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Thank you Koji.
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Beautiful written, Colleen !!!
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Thank you Viveka.
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Truly written from the heart.
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It was, with the thoughts of actual persons, faces, losses, memories. Knowing these through other’s makes this ‘holiday’ of remembrance so different than just a day off.
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beautiful tribute 🙂
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Thank you. 🙂
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This is beautiful. I’ll be sharing it this weekend. Thank you!
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Thank you Little Miss Wordy. And you are welcome.
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So, I’m not home this weekend and had set up your post to re-blog today. It never showed up. I tried to post it from my phone. Well, that didn’t go well. I was determined to share it with the world, so I shared it individually via Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Tumblr, StumbleUpon and Pinterest. 😉 Thanks again for sharing your beautiful words. I hope my sharing them will make them reach many more and touch hearts that wouldn’t otherwise have been lucky enough to read them.
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I have seen others having difficulty with “reblogs” as well. I’m honored you liked this enough to share it. And whatever you did, must be working, because it appears people are reading “Because You Died For Me”. Thank you Little Miss Wordy. 🙂
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Chatter Master – Beautiful… Elegant….. This is what we MUST remember every day.
Thank you, Koji, for re-blogging. I may not have seen this.
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Thank you Judy. And Koji is very good about honoring our veterans. You are right, we must remember!
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Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
This is the reason for “Memorial Day” …. “Because you died for me”. To never forget the ultimate sacrifice! Humbling indeed ….
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Thank you Dr. Rex.
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A wonderful tribute for Memorial Day.
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Thank you Let’s CUT the Crap! I am trying to think of something unique to do this weekend. In memory.
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Powerful! I guess you guys have a long weekend? From the above comment it’s memorial day?
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Yes, a long weekend because it is Memorial Day. I wonder if all other countries have similar holidays to our Memorial Day. Does yours?
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We have Remembrance Day but I think you do too.
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Is Remembrance Day for your veterans?
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Yes 🙂
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This is what Memorial Day is for, remembering our service people who have died. It started out being called Decoration Day and there are different ‘stories’ on who and when it started. But it was in decorating veteran’s graves that this is based on.
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I’m so glad we have such a day, I think it’s crucial to remember 🙂
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I think so too. I think of the young men and women….and what they did not get to return to enjoy.
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Exactly and often how the gov. abandons them after their service is done.
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Too often….
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yes once is too much
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All heart.
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From many people.
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Beautiful post Colleen!
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Thank you so much Melissa.
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I straddle two worlds. But in this I agree with. No mater the America or the Ireland. People sacrificed their own for others. And for that, I am indebted with a debt I cannot repay.
Whether they gave their lives or no…they were willing to for the ideals they believed in…for the ideals I believe in.
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Amen Irish Katie, amen.
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