First read by Dick on Friday, May 23, 2003, and repeated several times throughout the year, including Thursday, September 11, 2003. This poem was printed in the Perry County Paper for a number of years on "Decoration Day", written by Annabelle Gunnet Jones around 1932. So many of you have requested it, we have the text available here for you to read and forward.
The Inscription
"Here lies an American Soldier Known but to God." As I read the words over softly I said to myself, "how odd"!
For I knew the Unknown Soldier Ever since he was a lad. He was just an average boy Neither too good or too bad.
He liked to play ball, and marbles Climb trees, fish and swim. Collect moths and arrowheads Or whatever suited his whim.
I watched him grow to Manhood. And fall in love with a fair-haired lass. While half a war torn world away, The cry was "They shall not pass".
I was there on the station platform When he kissed his sweetheart goodbye There--he started his journey To a foreign land to die.
Letters came from oe'r the billows; What a story they did tell! Then-the message-he was missing In the Argonne's flaming hell.
Back across the restless ocean To his own dear native shore. they brought his broken body home, Here to sleep for ever more.
Back and forth, the sentry paces With his firmly shouldered gun, Ever guarding the sleep of the soldier Called "Unknown" by every one.
But I know his name, so listen! While I tell it to everyone. He's not an Unknown Soldier For his mother called him--Son.
