Memorial Day

Season of Remembrance Begins by Kathleen T. Rhem

Today we remember all who have given their lives in defense of our freedom so, at 3pm, please take a moment to participate in the National Moment of Remembrance.

Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God

Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er,
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking:
Dream of battled fields no more,
Days of danger, nights of waking.
In our isle's enchanted hall,
Hands unseen thy couch are strewing,
Fairy strains of music fall,
Every sense in slumber dewing.
Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er,
Dream of fighting fields no more:
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking,
Morn of toil, nor night of waking.

No rude sound shall reach thine ear,
Armour's clang, or war-steed champing,
Trump nor pibroch summon here
Mustering clan, or squadron tramping,
Yet the lark's shrill fife may come
At the day-break from the fallow,
And the bittern sound his drum,
Booming from the sedgy shallow.
Ruder sounds shall none be near,
Guards nor warders challenge here,
Here's no war-steed's neigh and champing,
Shouting clans or squadrons stamping.

-Excerpt from Sir Walter Scott's
The Lady of the Lake: Canto 1

Comments

[Lee Simpson]

The Edinburgh Sir Walter Scott Club. www.eswsc.com