Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Their Deaths Are What We Make Them

I came across the following poem on the website for the 38 WASP who were killed during WWII, but it is is just as easily applicable today.

"...WE WERE YOUNG.
WE HAVE DIED.
REMEMBER US.

...OUR DEATHS ARE NOT OURS;
THEY ARE YOURS;
THEY WILL MEAN WHAT YOU MAKE THEM...

...WHETHER OUR LIVES AND OUR DEATHS
WERE FOR PEACE AND A NEW HOPE
OR FOR NOTHING
WE CANNOT SAY;

IT IS YOU WHO MUST SAY THIS.
...WE LEAVE YOU OUR DEATHS.
GIVE THEM THEIR MEANING.
WE WERE YOUNG...
WE HAVE DIED.
REMEMBER US." 1


1. "The Young Dead Soldier" by Archibald MacLeish.

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