My country tears of thee
Sweet Land of Liberty
For thee I shall always sing
Let freedom bells forever ring

Ralph Ignatowski and many more
Raised our flag on a foreign shore
Back on a hill in 1-9-4-5
On a day I was yet barely alive

Because of them I am free to fish
I know our freedom was their wish
They fought the battle against Japan
Prepared to die was every man

We must never forget it was D-Day
And the price our marines did pay
So we could chase the elusive crappie
And our days would be forever happy

Freedom my friends is never free
A price was paid for you and me
Speak now and cheer our military's soul
Volunteer and help us win our goal

America, America
God shed His grace on thee
But they spat into our face
And threw a bomb at me

Don't ever forget Pearl Harbor day
And the sacrifice our relatives did pay
Just so we could wet a line
And tell everyone "We're doing fine"

Throwing flesh against their concrete
Was the challenges they did meet
No front lines for "Easy" company
Those who survived pray on bended knee

For freedom's dream they fought
Has it been just all for naught?
Each day at the rising of the dawn
In my heart, their dream lives on!

The dream lives on of a land called free!
Their dream is there for you and for me
Nurture it, Cradle it, and then help build it
Don't you give up, and don't you ever quit!

by Michael C. Carter
Memorial Day 2009
Dedicated to our military personnel