Lord, I pray from day to day
To help me understand
How Americans view their heroes
And how they judge a man!
If being someone famous
Is looked upon with awe,
Something's wrong with our values
Then what are we fighting for?
I'm in the military
And proud of what I do
But I need to feel some strength, some love
That's why I pray to you.
Some of our families left us
And now as years have passed
I realize the burden and the stress
For each day could be our last!
I'm in the field of combat
Where bullets are surrounding me,
And very few care who have died
Protecting Americans born free!
I'm just asking for some comfort
Some support, and one thing more
To be given RESPECT and HONOR
From the Americans we're all fighting for!
� Elaine V. Hall
Used with permission All Rights Reserved
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their Nation."
-- George Washington
This page has been made for James H. Barber "Tom" and all of
other men and women that have served in any military branch within the United States Of America. For all of those that gave their lives for our freedom.
This page is a special request from Tom's wife, Sue Barber.
Tom and Sue have been married 23 years on June 10, 2001. He is a father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a former POW. Tom is now 72 years of age. He served 21 years and 5 months in the Army. From February 25, 1946 until August 30, 1967. Tom was a POW from December 3, 1950 until August 5, 1953. He was a POW for 32 months and 2 days. Tom was in North Korea in camp 3.
Tom is a born again christian and a member of the Ironton Baptist Church in Alabama. Tom is totally disabled now, and due to health problems, he will do his nursing home ministry along with his wife, Sue, when he is able.
Tom and Sue are the proud parents of several children together. They have six children together, 1 son and 5 daughters, 20 grand children, and three great grand children and two more on he way. Tom is not one to speak of his Korean experience along with several others that have served our country. Let us stand up and salute the men and women across this great nation and thank them for what they have done for us. Just like the dispute during this presidential election over our serve men and womens votes. I for one, feel they should have been counted regardless of the date and when that vote was taken from that person, they should have been saluted. These are the people that are fighting to keep this nation "One Nation Under God". So the next time you think of our men and women serving our country and serving it proudly, stop and say a prayer for them and their families. For without them, where would we be today?
The Star-Spangled Banner
Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner forever shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
