There was a memorial vigil at Fort Hood tonight, but I didn’t get a chance to go. I have been thinking all day about who might be mourning the soldiers who died.
Do you know this Dixie Chicks song? The girl who is mourning the dead soldier (from the Vietnam War) is mourning alone under the stands at a HS football game, and no one even knows that she knew him, that she fell in love with him.
President Obama and everyone else has sent their sympathies to the families of all of the people who were killed yesterday here in Texas, but I wonder if there’s anyone else mourning who is just crying by themselves under the stands.
It’s a real tragedy. I don’t think we understand enough about what happened, but we know enough that it’s time to end all of the wars.
Lyrics:
“Travelin’ Soldier”
Two days past eighteen
He was waiting for the bus in his army green
Sat down in a booth in a cafe there
Gave his order to a girl with a bow in her hair
He’s a little shy so she gives him a smile
And he said would you mind sittin’ down for a while
And talking to me,
I’m feeling a little low
She said I’m off in an hour and I know where we can goSo they went down and they sat on the pier
He said I bet you got a boyfriend but I don’t care
I got no one to send a letter to
Would you mind if I sent one back here to youChorus: I cried
Never gonna hold the hand of another guy
Too young for him they told her
Waitin’ for the love of a travelin’ soldier
Our love will never end
Waitin’ for the soldier to come back again
Never more to be alone when the letter said
A soldier’s coming homeSo the letters came from an army camp
In California then Vietnam
And he told her of his heart
It might be love and all of the things he was so scared of
He said when it’s getting kinda rough over here
I think of that day sittin’ down at the pier
And I close my eyes and see your pretty smile
Don’t worry but I won’t be able to write for awhile[Chorus]
One Friday night at a football game
The Lord’s Prayer said and the Anthem sang
A man said folks would you bow your heads
For a list of local Vietnam dead
Crying all alone under the stands
Was a piccolo player in the marching band
And one name read but nobody really cared
But a pretty little girl with a bow in her hair[Chorus x2]
Political Teen Tidbits 
November 7, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Freckles –
That’s a really nice thought, and I never heard that DC song before. Thanks for this!
Regards,
Tengrain
November 7, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Heartbreaking song, Cassie…thanks for posting.
November 7, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Thanks for this, Cassie.
November 8, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Reading the profiles of those slaughtered, I was amazed again at the diversity and broad life experience of those who volunteer to serve our nation at war. There were mothers, grandmothers, recent high school graduates, men my age who’d bothered their review boards to let them serve despite their age and disability. My heart also bleeds for those secret mourners who may not be able to be open to their families and community about their loss.
Thanks for this, Cassie. I hope your community heals.
November 8, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Well done, Cassie.
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