LONG TAN DAY

With Long Tan Day (Australia's Vietnam Veteran's Day) fast approaching, I wish all veteran's, their families and friends, peace of mind and ease of heart.
It's been a long road for everyone.
The following is a poem a niece of australian KIA Peter Peddingston wrote a few years back.

LONG TAN DAY

VIETNAM VETERAN'S DAY

AUGUST 18

by Wendy Stewart

We are all gathered here today,

To honour the ones who went away,

We remember those who never returned.

Their faces remain etched, forever burned

into our hearts and through our souls,

Their absence aching black holes.

We hold on tight to their pride.

Still question the reasons they died.

The pain of waiting never goes away,

Yet we shrug our shoulders and say,

"Yeah, I got over it all long ago.

I'm fine, I'm OK, didn'tchya know?"

If we can use our imnagination,

They will become our inspiration.

Their love is all around us.

Believe it and you will feel it surround us

Like the glow of a warm candle light,

In the dark of the darkest night.

Then I catch a glimpse of your mate.

You know, he still believes he came too late,

Nothing he could do but hold you.

He didn't wanna lie as he told you,

"Just hang on mate and you'll be OK."

He stayed 'til "Dust Off" took you away.

I can see a tear in his eye,

But he still denies the need to cry.

So for him I say a silent prayer,

For someone always to be there.

To help calm those old fears,

To encourage neglected tears.

When harrowing memories of yesterday,

Visions of mates, "gooks" the the "J",

come to haunt in the silence of night,

God, give him the strength to fight.

For the worst battle is within him.

Please grant him the courage to win.

Because if he doesn't ... I fear

He won't be here with us next year.

So many of his mates have died,

some poisoned, far too many by suicide.

Yeah ... He always dreams of Vietnam.

Still reckons no-one gives a damn.

He's wrong. Family and mates do,

We love and respect him, it's true,

He's our hero, our mate, our lover.

But he can never forget his lost brother.

Because their spirit still burns bright,

In the hearts of those they loved tonight.

They will become our inspiration,

If we just use our imagination.

Believe their love is all around us,

Geel it as it surrounds us,

Like the glow of a warm candlelight,

In the dark of the darkest night.

Many memories, yet little to say

To each other on our Memorial Day