A friend of mine who is also an RN, has a daughter who is in the Naval ROTC in High School. She is also in the Color Guard, She wrote and had copyrighted this poem which I would like to share with fellow readers because I feel to be young, talented and extremely patriotic is sometimes a rarity.

A Soldier From Day One

A soldier from day one, five years old running around.

A General's son, trying not to make a sound.

A soldier from day one.

eighteen years old joining the marines.

Knowing he could never have fun,

since he was now making sure the barracks were clean.

A soldier from day one.

Twenty years old being sent out to fight,

out in full gear getting beat by the sun.

not knowing a sniper had him in plain sight,

A soldier from day one.

Twenty years, four months, and two days old.

The enemy sniper's deed was done,

The soldier's body now cold,

a soldier from day one, a general's son.

Black car outside,

summer day with a high tide,

a soldier from day one.

The soldier's father receiving a letter,

a soldier from day one, for worse or for better.

A poem by Rachel L. Hoff. Fifteen and one half years old

Jacob W. Earheart Fights For the Confederacy