Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Arlington

(In honor of our Nation's birthday today, July 4, I am posting this a little early.  If you don't know this song, please go to YouTube and listen to Trace Adkins sing it.)

I never thought that this is where I'd settle down,
I thought I'd die an old man back in my hometown,
They gave me this plot of land, me and some other men,
for a job well done.
There's a big white house sits on a hill just up the road,
The man inside he cried the day they brought me home,
They folded up a flag, and told my mom and dad, 'We're proud of your son'.
And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property,
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company,
I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done,
I can rest in peace, I'm one of the chosen ones,
I made it to Arlington.


I remember daddy brought me here when I was eight,
We searched all day to find out where my granddad lay,
And when we finally found that cross,
He said, 'Son this is what it cost, to keep us free'.
Now here I am a thousand stones away from him,
He recognized me on the first day I came in,
And it gave me a chill, when he clicked his heels, and saluted me.

And I'm proud to be on this peaceful piece of property,
I'm on sacred ground and I'm in the best of company,
And I'm thankful for those thankful for the things I've done,
I can rest in peace, I'm one of the chosen ones,
I made it to Arlington.

And every time I hear, twenty-one guns,
I know they brought another hero home, to us.
We're thankful for those thankful for the things we've done,
We can rest in peace, 'cause we were the chosen ones,
We made it to Arlington, yea, dust to dust
Don't cry for us, we made it to Arlington.

(Photos from the Veteran's Cemetery in Hampton, VA; Letters are from the Armed Forces Memorial, Norfolk, VA; Courthouse is in my own hometown, Surry, VA; 1st flag is from Ft. Wool, Hampton, VA; 2nd set of flags from Waterside, Norfolk, VA; Old cross from St. Luke's Cemetery, Smithfield, VA; Big white house from Gordonsville, VA)

I want to thank my husband, Dan, for suggesting this song for Thursday Theme Song, and then for taking me to the Hampton Veteran's Cemetery (which I didn't even know existed) to get the photos I needed to do the song justice.  He is an absolute gem!



Linking to Thursday Theme Song

16 comments:

Elizabeth Edwards said...

wow, give me a minute. i need a tissue or two. wow, Linda ... not only do you know how to pick a perfect song - your photos go so well with it too. awesome!! i love trace adkins. great voice. what i did was play it in the background while i read your words(the lyrics) ... too cool!! i've been to Arlington cemetery several times during school years. what a beautiful place to see & remember the ones who fought for us. so meaningful. (:

TexWisGirl said...

thank you, linda. this was wonderful and touching.

Red said...

I visited Arlington in 1992. It was an impressive sight and sent me away with much to think about.

Lighthousegal said...

Trace Adkins' song, Arlington is a very fitting song for the day. It is quite a powerful song. I have never visited Arlington, but my sister and her family have and they tell me that everyone should visit there at least once in their lifetime, that it is a very sombering place.
Your photos are great as always and very fitting for the song.
Great Choice and Well Done!
Happy Fourth!!

Kranky Granny said...

I have not heard this song before and you have me in tears.

Very touching and posted on the perfect day.

SquirrelQueen said...

This is my first time hearing this song and it brought a tear to my eye. Those letters made me reach for the tissues. A very touching post.

eileeninmd said...

Beautiful photos and I love Trace's songs. Have a wonderful day.

eileeninmd said...

Beautiful photos and I love Trace's songs. Have a wonderful day.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Oh my gosh Linda, this is such a wonderful post, like the others above the words moved me so much, the letters are heartbreaking..add my thanks to Dan for making it possible. When will the wars stop I wonder, somehow I don't see it, do you?

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Wonderful song and photos for Thursday Theme Song.

My Mind's Eye said...

Your pictures are amazing and the post beautiful
Hugs
Madi and mom

Carletta said...

I've never heard the song and I got choked up just reading it. Don't think I'll search for the video just yet.
Beautiful post Linda!!
You do Thursday Theme Song with such wonderful creativity and heart.

Hootin Anni said...

The song choice is soooooooo wonderful for this time of year. Linda, the words: " And every time I hear, twenty-one guns,
I know they brought another hero home, to us." put chills up and down my arms...what an incredible fabulous themesong this week.

The photos again, they're outstanding.

Pix at Under the Oaks said...

A beautiful work of art with your photos and the tribute to those who served!

kayerj said...

what a nice series. very patriotic.

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

Very moving post, Linda. Always sad to visit cemeteries like this and see so many young lives cut short...