"Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys, we'll rally once again,
Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom;
We will rally from the hillside, we'll gather from the plain,
Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom.

CHORUS:
The Union forever, hurrah, boys, hurrah!
Down with the traitor and up with the star;
While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again,
Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom.

We are springing to the call of our brothers gone before,
Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom;
And we'll fill the vacant ranks with a million freemen more,
Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom.

We will welcome to our numbers the loyal, true and brave,
Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom;
And altho' they may be poor, not a man shall be a slave,
Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom.

So we're springing to the call from the East and from the West,
Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom;
And we'll hurl the rebel crew from the land we love the best,
Shouting the battle-cry of Freedom."

For the first time in many years, we are observing Memorial Day during War. Given the events of the past seven months, the words to the Civil War song, Battle Cry of Freedom, with it's strain of "Rally 'Round the Flag Boys", it is appropriate that we reflect on WHY so many men and women, soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, coast guardians, national guardsmen, merchant mariners, southerners and northerners, and others, have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Throughout history, the United States has been threatened by those who wish to do us and our allies, our way of life, harm. It is in those dark, tempestuous times that the brightest lights of patriotism have shone.

It is during those ugly moments when faced with a Hitler, a Pol Pot, Communism, Secession and now, Terrorism, that we find the beauty of the American Spirit and the willingness to serve this Nation with Dignity, Honor and Sacrifice.

We are reminded of the millions who have laid down their lives for Liberty, Freedom and Equality. We are reminded of those who met their end in a moment of extraordinary bravery and of those who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But one thing stands clearly above everything else. Whenever the standard-bearer falls, another falls into step and lifts the flag high once again. And it is with that simple gesture that our spirits are raised, our hopes and our dreams.

They have died for the flag... for the right to burn the flag

They have died for liberty... died as Prisoners of War deprived of liberty

They have died for dignity, duty and honor... died in ravines, mud and swamps

They have died for the Constitution... in lands that had no constitution

They have died for freedom... in countries that would never be free

They have died while giving thanks to the great nation from which they came... died for a nation that frequently forgot how to say thanks

There are no words or a way to thank those who have laid down their lives, the mothers and fathers who put a star in the window, the widows and orphans.

But we can remember...

And we can Rally 'Round the Flag, rally 'round Our Men & Women in Uniform, their Families and our Great Nation.

It is not, as the song goes, the Union Forever, but,

THE U.S. FOREVER

For those who cannot enjoy the full and free life each of us wants,
who among us will stand in their place.

POW-MIA You Are Not Forgotten

Andi & Bob
AII POW-MIA

In honor of the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice, AII POW-MIA will, as is our tradition, black out the archives until the Memorial Day remembrances and ceremonies end Thursday evening, May 30th.

Please take a moment to remember and honor these selfless Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, Merchant Mariners, Reservists, National Guardsmen and Marines, say a prayer for their families, and thank them all for the magnificent gift we live each and every day... Freedom.

May God bless all of our Prisoners and Missing and those who wait.

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Advocacy and Intelligence Index for Prisoners of War - Missing in Action.
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