Official Dara Joy

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Books
    • Dara’s Chamber
  • Guestbook
  • Mailing List
  • Blog

REMEMBER

Posted on May 26, 2008 by WMaster41DaraJoy* Posted in FanSpeak .


When I was a little girl, my father took me to Arlington National Cemetery.

We stood in the middle of a sea of gravestones, silent.

My small hand in his, we came to the Tomb of the Unknowns. With tears in his eyes, my father told me that these heroes names were lost to history. He explained to me why soldiers wear dog tags. In the distance, a flag-draped coffin was lowered into the ground- the latest addition to the silent neighborhood. Once, someone in this crowd laughed at a movie, or held hands with his girl, or patted the heads of her children. The flag, snugly folded into its triangular nest, was then handed to the next of kin.

We stood before JFK’s final resting place, with its flickering gas-lit torch.

The three of us, Bostonians.

We wept.

“That flame never goes out,” my father said.

That night I pulled the covers up to my chin in the darkened bedroom and I thought of that flame forever burning; forever chasing shadows away. I drifted off to sleep comforted by the thought that no matter how dark it became- there in Arlington National Cemetery, a torch always burned.

That was many years ago. My father is gone now. . . but, still, the light remains.

7 Comments
« LET’S GET TOGETHER!
The Writer’s Red Balloon »

7 Responses

  1. Beverly says
    June 1, 2008 at 5:57 pm

    Thanks for the heart-warming post.

    Beverly

    Reply
  2. Lynne says
    May 29, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    Reminds me about my visit to the Vietnam memorial.

    Reply
  3. Kylie says
    May 28, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    Wow, great post, Dara. Really important sentiments and all. I’ve never been to the national cemetery but we hope to bring the kids there next summer on our way through DC. When we do, I’ll think of this I’m sure.

    Best wishes Kylie

    Reply
  4. Carrie says
    May 28, 2008 at 4:41 pm

    I loved hearing about the forever flame.

    Reply
  5. Mary P. says
    May 28, 2008 at 2:10 pm

    A thoughtful tribute Dara. I’m going to print it out and show it to my students so they can discuss it.

    Reply
  6. Lisa says
    May 27, 2008 at 7:20 pm

    I appreciate you sharing your memories with us.

    Thank you,
    Lisa

    Reply
  7. Bea K. says
    May 27, 2008 at 7:11 pm

    This was lovely! You got me to sniffling some, Ms Joy, and that ain’t easy. I’m forwarding this link to my sister-in-law. Thanks for writing it.

    Reply

Leave a comment

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Mailling List

Subscribe to Dara Joy’s Mailing List.

Ebook Set for Sale

The entire 16 e-book set of all Dara's e-titles is packaged at $56.50 (regular price $86.50). To order click below.

Recent Posts

  • HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL! December 19, 2022
  • Happy Thanksgiving Day November 24, 2022
  • Veteran’s Day November 11, 2022
  • HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY! July 3, 2022
  • HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! June 19, 2022

Archives

Social Media

Archives

CyberChimps WordPress Themes

Copyright notice: All contents ™, ® and © 2000-2016 Dara Joy unless otherwise noted herein. All rights reserved. This site is wholly owned by Dara Joy. Nothing may be copied, used, or reproduced without the written permission of Dara Joy.