"WE STILL SERVE"

You left your home, so young and brave
A proud Marine, not a bit afraid.
To a war you went so far away.
Your country called, you had to obey.

Now in a land where death does abide,
You fight and strive to stay alive.
Though in the Jungle so thick it hides the sky,
To mud of the paddies where you dry.

No longer the boy so full of dreams.
The naive kid with a thousand schemes.
For you have aged beyond your years.
And know the pain of a thousand tears.

In thirteen months of death and hell.
You live a story you dare not tell.
A story of how you aged a hundred years.

On your way home you have time to reflect
On t6he friends that have died and the ones that you left.
A tear comes to your eye, which you can't control,
A tear that comes from your very soul.

You seem withdrawn from friends you've known,
A man alone in a place called home.
Your youth you left so far behind,
In a place that will leave forever in your mind.

For the nights of terror have just begun,
The screams of the dying and you are one.
That war in a land so far away,
Now lives with you from day to day.

By: Thomas Farrell

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"Christmas at the Haven"

Twas the night before Christmas when all through the Haven, not a creature was stirring all behaving. All the mail boxes were marked with care, in hopes our friend Debbie soon would be there.

The residents were chillin inside all their rooms, watching videos, listening to music and casting out gloom. The RLS staff were waiting for the next run, to the Wawa the bus stop the post office what fun.

When out at the front gate there arose such a roar, it was the club Rolling Thunder riding to our front door. Down the elevator I came with such speed, and all they asked is what do you need?

The sky was clear the stars were bright. There were vans full of veterans man what a sight. They wore the colors of the MIA in fact, and refused to take them off until all had come back.

More faster than sports cars no bike was the same, now Duke, now Tinman, now Bear and fast Eddie, on Lil Bit, Viv, Angel and Betty.

Through the front gate and past Holly Hall, he said Ride my brothers come one come all.

They weren't dressed in red it was all black, leather, it was fantastic to see all the vets together. There was food and presents they were all big hearted, the Elks suddenly shouted lets get this gig started.

We welcomed them in and ate with such glee, the happiness and laughter was a sight to see. We jammed to Bad Company, Tupac, and Skynard. There were presents for all oh man what a dinner.

Debbie filled all the boxes with cookies and a card she said with Gods Spirit nothing is hard. School children sent presents we just couldn't lose, razors, toothpaste all things we could use.

We love their kindness they hav eour respect and love, we pray for their blessings to our God up above. They don't ask for much, just do unto others, cause in this world we are all sisters and brothers.

The night came to an end and we all went our own way, but we knew in our hearts it would be a beautiful day. They got on their bikes in their cars and vans, but before they left we hugged and shook hands.

They said Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, with God in our hearts you have nothing to fear. And as they were leaving he said lets go Viv, we live to ride amd ride to give.

Emanuel Askew 2003