Perry A. Dautreuil

PROMISES OF A BETTER WORLD, GABRIELLE
(from your pop-pop)

My sweet and precious little grandchild, my beautiful Gabrielle,
You came into our lives just months after the Twin Towers fell.
I cherish every chance to see you, and to hold you in my arms.
But yet I wonder of your future, and why terrorists would
Wish to do such an innocence any harm.

My nights used to be haunted with the thoughts of your days yet to be.
Nightmarish images of you imprisoned by fear, robbed of your liberty.
I would stay awake at night, plagued with visions dark and gray,
Visions of you shackled by chains of terror that those misguided
Have vowed to unleash our way.

Those who lead our nation have vowed to keep our people safe and free,
And have pledged to take the battle anywhere these horrors may be.
Then so, one night, my little one, while most of the world slept
Those promises of war that was made
Became the promises of war that was kept!

History will record those battles, strategies, movements, and plans
Of the armies and their engagements in those distant far off lands.
The world will remember a General saying that “war is a terrible thing,
With the heavy cost of our precious blood
Even the Victor doesn’t totally win.”

Thanks to those who have taken up arms and answered the call to the fight
Our world is a safer place, no more nightmarish images in the night.
And you and your generation have by our Glorious Warriors been taught
That within us all is the compassion to aid those in need,
And the courage and ferocity to fight the evils that must be fought.

Learn the lesson, my little precious, of the battle-hardened Marine squad
Who was challenged by hundreds protecting their Mosque, their house of God.
The Marines responded with a tactic that this unruly crowd did not expect,
The Squad lowered their rifles, smiled, dropped to one knee and won the day
With a unified show of Respect.

Learn the lesson of the young Marine officer, who on a dark desert night
Found himself and his company engaged in a fierce, bloody fire-fight.
When he saw a wounded, unarmed enemy plead for help with his extended hand
The young officer braved the field of death to save,
Not an enemy anymore, but a needy fellow man!

Learn the lesson of the young army clerk, whose company came under attack.
Though not fully trained in the ways of war, they all fiercely fought back.
Her tiny body broken, in great pain, God knows what her captors put her through
But when she heard her rescuers call her name, she proudly replied,
“I AM AN AMERICAN SOLDIER, TOO!”

The lessons of these stories, and the countless others I did not you tell of
Is that the greatest weapon against these, and all evils, is FAITH-HOPE and LOVE.
Remember to hold these dear and they will always serve you well.
And as you face each of your days yet to be, and people yet to meet,
It is these Truths that will guide you to the ”Promises of a Better World, Gabrielle.”

Perry A. Dautreuil

PROMISES OF A BETTER WORLD, GABRIELLE (from your pop-pop)

PROMISES OF A BETTER WORLD, GABRIELLE
(from your pop-pop)