Christmas Eve at Arlington

 Christmas Eve at Arlington

(A Twenty-One Line Salute)

Across the lawns of Arlington

America’s daughters and her sons

Rest side-by-side, one by one

While hard and polished heels click

As though the whisper of St. Nick

Across the hills and over creek.

Twenty-one paces, nearly clocked,

Mark the time, thus unlocked,

Since the call to service knocked

And took these soldiers, fit and well,

To defend our liberty until they fell

Facing cannon ball and mortar shell.

Given grave alternative

Each had but one life to give

For the freedom in which we live

And thus, to this field, from each war

Have come these heroes by the score—

Some known to God, but no one more.

“Tis Christmas Eve at Arlington

Where America’s daughters and her sons

Wait for Christmas, one by one….

By

James N. Zitzelsberger

Reflections following a visit to the Arlington National Cemetery as part of the Old Glory Honor Flight for Vietnam Veterans, August 2nd, 2013.

© 2013