One Less Soldier’s Widow

“Give me one less soldier’s widow,” I hear you cry at me.
“One less flag-draped casket,” you sigh pathetically.
“One less gun salute, we don’t need guns no more.
“One less sound of Taps,” you say. “We’ll have an end of war.”

As the soldier’s wife became a widow, his children remained free.
As one flag draped his casket, it whispered ‘Old Glory’.
As the rifles cracked in honor, they shattered tyranny.
As the trumpet solo carried, the note pledged Liberty.

Every death brings sorrow, and every sorrow pain.
A sacrifice bravely given changes bitter loss to gain.
For if we had one less widow we would have a weaker stand.
And if one less casket, an undefended land.

Degradation would erupt if there were one less gun salute.
We’d hear the cry of slavery if Taps were to fall mute.
So preach to me of peace and the fellowship of men.
But know that fellowship and peace were bought
By each fallen veteran.


One of my proudest accomplishments has been writing this weekly column for veterans. I have written the articles while working full time and juggling other responsibilities including being an elder in my church, singing in the choir, running a prayer shawl ministry, facilitating a writers group, teaching adult classes on internet commerce, running a part-time eBay business, publishing two books (by a traditional small publishing house - thank you very much!) and traveling to the consequential book-signings and speaking events, and somewhere in between – having a life!

August 1, 2012 Bedina’s War (ISBN: 978-1-936695-88-1 Comfort Publishing, LLC www.comfortpublishing.com) was released in most major bookstores and on-line including Barnes & Nobles, Amazon, and Books-a-Million. The dedication inside it reads:

It is my honor to dedicate this book to all members of the
military, past, present, and future, who know War intimately
and irrevocably. I also wish to thank the families of soldiers,
those who with silent courage wait behind each door.

I am truly grateful to you and your families for everything you do.

Although I will be writing a weekly article for veterans on my blog WritingRainey.blogspot.com, I find that I am no longer able to give this BellaOnline Veterans Column the time it so richly deserves. After three years of reading and responding to your heartfelt letters and building friendships with you which I know will continue, I ask your leave to resign from this column. I would hope that one of you may take on the role of becoming the new Veterans Columnist here. Whoever the new editor is, I ask that you give him or her the same support and encouragement you have given to me over these very fulfilling years as your Veterans writer.

Sincerely,
Evelyn Rainey
https://www.comfortpublishing.com/bedinaswar.html