While every other American besides me enjoys their holiday (as I
have a full tutoring shift today), I want to remind you that on
top of the barbecues and road-trips, you should take a little
time to remember the reason for your three-day weekend. While
everyone has their own opinions on war and the military, I think
that we can agree that the loss of human life is tragic. Because
Memorial Day is about remembering those soldiers who never
returned, I thought I would share three poems about their
ultimate sacrifice. “Oh, Stay at Home, My Lad, and Plough” by
A.E. Housman (1859-1936) Oh stay at home, my lad, and plough The
land and not the sea And leave the soldiers at their drill, And
all about the idle hill Shepherd your sheep with me. Oh stay
with company and mirth And daylight and the air; Too full
already is the grave Of fellows that were good and brave And
died because they were. “The Volunteer” by Elbridge Jefferson
Cutler (1831-1870) “At dawn,” he said, “I bid them all farewell,
To go where bugles call an