With Veterans day upcoming this Saturday I would like one last time to post here about my daughter, Lisha, who passed from this life on October 25th and recognize the many of you who posted encouragement and sympathy in her battle with brain cancer. Lisha was put in charge every year at her school to organize recognition of all the veterans who were parents and grandparents of the children there.
Lisha was a teacher and a poet and my favourite of her poems is entitled "HALLOWED GROUNDS" which appears on the Arlington National Cemetery website. If you would like to read it just google "Aallowed Grounds Lisha Lander Hylton" Our family visit in 2005 to The Wall and Arlington inspired her to write it.
I'm going to look up and read the poem. Thank you for the update.
Hallowed Grounds
By: Lisha Lander Hylton
June 2005
As I walk down the green, sloping hills
of Virginia,
On the hallowed grounds,
of our heroes from war;
In the fields that were home,
to an old southern general,
Rest American soldiers, in the peace
they died for.
CHORUS:
They gave their lives for our freedom, in Americas name.
Our heroes are gone, but their memories remain.
God has called them to His kingdom, now they rest in
Honored glory;
From these hallowed grounds – we remember…
their story.
As the wind softly blows through the trees
on the hillsides,
Like a voice from the past, they
whisper to me.
“As He died to make men holy, and give
us salvation,
Let us live and let us die,
to set Americans free.”
Tell me, how many wars will it take
till we learn,
The treasures of freedom, the final
“Amen”?
Blowing in the breeze, is the answer,
to peace.
Among the graves of these proud countrymen.
As the sad, mourning cry of a
whippoorwill fades,
I see in the distance, a tomb
and a guard.
“Here rests in honored glory,
an American soldier;
One who is known but to God.”
Entombed in the crypts and so often
forgotten,
On eagles bold wings, their souls
will endure.
In war after war, their bodies
lay shattered,
Resting now in The Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier.
In your own native land, lies your dust
in the soil.
It’s fitting for your
worthy grave.
The earth claims from wars, her most
sacred souls,
The ashes of our courage and
our brave.
Now live, eternal, you saints of
our wars.
Dear as the blood that you
willingly gave.
No footstep shall tread, on this
reverent sod.
The heritage of our soldiers’
holy grave.
And to those who are lost, and whose lives
are uncertain,
In one final prayer, we
silently make.
That their valor and virtue, for our country
at war,
Be our hope for their glorious fate.
To those living today, giving lives
for our freedom,
As they fight for The Land
of the Free;
We will pray to our Lord, our Savior
and Father,
“May God shed His loving Grace
upon Thee”.
As I gaze toward the sunset, as twilight
creeps in,
Over thousands of graves, in the moon’s
early light
Like fingers caressing, the heart
of my soul;
I feel their voices whisper softly
in the night.
Pleading, “Let there be peace, on earth,
for mankind.
God, give us strength, give our world
unity;
Let the bells toll for freedom, let the stars and stripes
fly…
In the land of the brave and the home of
The free!”
Thank you CraigD and Skeettx for posting Lisha's poem. Lisha felt deeply about a lot of things but no more so than our veterans. She will be missed by many.
Best Regards, George
I am so sorry to hear about your daughter George.
May God Bless her heart.
Hi George: I'm very sorry re Lisha. So sad when someone is taken so young, 56 yo is too young. Her poetry was so pretty. My sis is 57 yo and has Stage IV cancer with brain metastases. She was diagnosed 6 1/2 years ago, but we are now on her 4th course of therapy. She has great doctors, but we have to face reality....we are running out of time and options. Makes me sick to know, but my sis Jenny has peace with what's coming. I'm guessing your daughter was at peace too. Jenny loves life, the outdoors, dogs, horses, her son and life in general. It's not fair that Jen will die at this young age, and Lisha too. But, it's reality. I'm sure you know that feeling. I pray for Jen and your daughter, it's all I can do. Take care. I hope we all find peace in a difficult time. Best, Buzz
Thank you CraigD and Skeettx for posting Lisha's poem. Lisha felt deeply about a lot of things but no more so than our veterans. She will be missed by many.
Best Regards, George
Well, George, she and I were kindred spirits, never met. It has been a life's commitment for me to thank veterans for their service, whenever and wherever I may see them. My loving wife understands, and shares, my commitment to this. I can tell Lisha did, too.
May you find that peace that passeth understanding. Phil. 4:7
SRH
Thank You Treblig 1958, Buzz & Stan: Buzz it sounds like Jenny and Lisha were kindred spirits. Lisha too loved the outdoors, all God's creatures and living life at it's fullest. The only answer that I can rationalize is the God needed a couple more angels. Lisha, too, was at peace. She did not confide all to me because she did not want me to worry, but she did confide this to her closest friends. As the old spiritual sings "There is a Balm in Giliad to make the wounded whole" Stan: She loved recognizing our veterans every year. She was recognized herself a number of time by our local American Legion, DAV & VFW chapters.
Best Regards, George