"My Marine, My Son" 

I remember well the day you were born; 
It was fall, leaves pretty, it was warm. 
I was filled with fear, and apprehension; 
But when you arrived no one had to mention 
That you would one day draw much attention 
For all the good and mighty deeds you've done, 
All the personal battles fought and won. 
You will NEVER know my pride for you, my son! 

While you ventured through the jungle of life, 
Facing it's many joys and it's strife's, 
I soon realized there was nothing to fear, 
For God's greatest blessings are yours through the years. 
The only thing wasted have been all my tears; 
Having watched you grow up into a man full of pride. 
For now those huge footsteps you take with such stride 
Are the steps of a man with that child inside. 

I still envision him in your voice when you speak, 
In the laughter, the smile, the way your mouth tweaks. 
There's that childish sparkle behind those bright eyes 
And the way we both look at the same bright blue skies. 
I cherish those phone calls and dread saying good-byes. 
It lightens my heart and gladdens my day 
To hear that, "Hello Mom", in your own special way. 
It tells me you're with me in spirit to stay. 

Love is eternal, forever together we'll be, 
Mother/son relationship is special and free, 
To be given and taken, shared and enjoyed, 
A mother forever and her special young boy. 
The past we'll remember with our own special joy. 
Then you went and grew up and joined the Marines. 
They turned you into a U.S. fighting machine. 
You'll just never know what exactly I mean.... 

All mothers, we share the very same fears- 
That one day we'll share just too many tears, 
Of the grief and the pain of losing one of our own, 
Who we had so willed he'd have just stayed at home; 
Protected and safe in his own little dome. 
But you heard the cry, 'Oohrah, Semper Fi' 
And had to attend boot camp, South Carolina, P.I. 
My sweet little boy grew up and became my GI. 

Now here we all stand tall, free, and brave; 
Praying no Marine Mother must face a grave 
Of a fallen son or daughter, of one of our own; 
That Peace rule the Earth, that we're never alone 
Without our Marine, without Freedom we'll atone 
For the sins of the world we must not take for granted. 
Together we all stand, and we must be UNITED, 
All Countries, All Peoples, one World, One Giant! 
To a Special Young Man, 

My Son, Lcpl. Greg A. Dague 
Diane M. Weller, Mom