©2001, Pete DeVries

Sgt. Major Pete DeVries, retired

82nd Airborne Division, 10th Special Forces, veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam

This is a day of homage

To our immortal dead

A day that we pay tribute

To those who fought and bled

A day that we remember

Each single fallen son

Who gave his very utmost

And life’s work now is done

A day of deep reflections

A day we wonder why

Men cannot learn to live in peace

And not wage war and die

A day we should resolve and pledge

The peace they strove to gain

Will be safeguarded and preserved

So they died not in vain

A day we hear the muted taps

So softly fade away

A farewell to our honored dead

On this, a special day

An interview with Pete DeVries is included in "A Mile in Their Shoes"