by Karin L. Nauber

karin@inhnews.com

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The Annual Browerville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8391 and American Legion Post #293 Memorial Day Program was held on Monday, May 27 at the Browerville School due to inclement weather.

The program was somber and moving with readings and a selection by the Browerville High School Band. 

The program ended with the firing squad salute and taps.

One part of the program that was very touching for many of the participants and audience was the reading of the poem, He Said He Had a Friend, read by Renee Buhl and Browerville VFW Post #8391 Commander Kristopher Lemm.

The poem follows:

He Said He Had a Friend

 

Dear Mom and Dad, 

The War is done, my task is finally through

But, oh, please Mom, there’s something great that I must ask of you

I have a friend, oh, such a friend, he has no home you see

And so, dear Mom, I’d really like to bring him home with me

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Dear Son, 

We don’t really mind if someone comes home with you

I’m sure he could stay with us, perhaps a week or two

 

Dear Mom, 

There’s something you must know, now, please don’t be alarmed

My friend in the battle recently was hurt and lost an arm

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Dear Son, 

Don’t be afraid to bring him home with you

Your friend can stay and visit for maybe a day or two

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Dear Mom,

But Mother, he’s not just a friend, he’s like a brother too

And that’s why I want him with us and like a son to you

And before you give your answer, Mom, I really don’t want to beg

But my friend fought in a battle in which he lost a leg

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Dear Son, 

It hurts so much to say my answer must be ‘No’

For Dad and I have no time for a boy who’s crippled so

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So, months go by and a letter comes, and it says their son has died

And when they read the cause of death, the shock, was suicide

Days later, when the casket came, draped in our country’s flag

They saw their son lying there without an arm or a leg.

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