When 9/11 happened, we were an active duty Navy family stationed at a
training facility in Upstate NY. While my husband was on a shore rotation,
we knew there was a possibility of his being called back to sea – it’s part of
the job. He didn’t leave, but instead, stayed where he was, training as
hard as he could to make sure his students were being sent out as confident
& prepared as they could be. Still, we were prepared for him to
leave. This poem came to me one evening, just sitting on the couch with
him, watching history enfold right in front of us.
While I don’t know anyone directly involved, we did have ties to all 3
locations. We were only 3 hours north of NYC; one of my husband’s former
CO’s was working at the Pentagon at that time (his office was damaged, but he
wasn’t there at the time); I grew up less than an hour away from Shanksville,
and my dad was Westmoreland County Hazardous Materials Asst. Chief at the time
(one county over), so I knew that he would be involved; not to mention the
countless shipmates & former students that we knew. This day, at
times, still feels like it happened yesterday with the way it tears at my
heart. We will never forget, and I pray that few people do.
(this poem was read on
107.7, WGNA,in Oct., ‘01 and also won the first-ever (for this post)
2001 Commander’s Award from the American Legion, Post 70)
When
Duty Calls
When
duty calls
I
will stand next to you with pride
I
will kiss you goodbye
I
will see that smile once more
And
watch you go out with the tide.
While
you are away
I
won’t say there won’t be fear
But
life must trudge on
And
our family must continue
Even
amidst all of the tears.
Yet
in those tears
Not
all are wept out of pain
You
have a job to do
As
your other half, so do I
And
should need be, I would do it all again.
We
are the same
You
and I, together we will go
As
you head off to fight
I
stay here to maintain
As
one, but apart, to conquer any foe.
The
time will come
When
the world will be quiet once more
Oceans
will once again be calm
Nations
will return to their ways
And
times will be as they once were before.
But
until then
I
will remain devoted to you
At
your side in support
In
your soul for comfort
With
our love, there is nothing we cannot do.
©C.M.Bolyard,
2001
Submitted by Carrie M. Bolyard
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