This is my beautiful family at Christmas 1994. There is my sister, my brother, my mother, my father, my grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. We were at my sister's house. That is Linda and her husband in the lower right hand corner.
Here I am with my father's family in Cuba, also in 1994. We were having a blast, can you tell? Despite all they have gone through and are still going through, they retain their spirit, sense of humor, and hope. That's my dad in the center (no, not the one on the floor) and I am directly behind him.
In the picture on the left, I am at
Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida with my cousin,
Andres. He was visiting us
from where he lives in Puerto Rico.
The picture on the right was taken 26 March, 1999,
at my Mom's house in Sevierville, TN.
It snowed unexpectedly and everyone was
delightfully surprised!
This is my best friend, Harley.
With deepest sorrow I report that Pvt. Harley
succumbed to poisoning on August 6, 1998, after four
days of putting up a valiant fight for his life.
We will miss him forever.
....Interesting Links....
Visit my Mom, after all, she's to blame for all of this.
Here you will be introduced to my sister and niece.
This is my younger brother's page.
All You Ever Wanted to Know About the Army
Now here is one of my favorite poems; too bad the author is unknown
and cannot receive the recognition that he/she deserves.
Just A Common Soldier
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And as he sat around the legion telling stories of his past,
Of a war he had fought in and the deeds he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies-they were heroes-every one.
And tho' sometimes to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his legion buddies listened, for they new where of he spoke,
But we'll hear his tales no longer, for old Bill has passed away
And the worlds a little poorer, for a soldier died today.
He won't be mourned by many, just his children and his wife
For he lived an ordinary quiet and uneventful life,
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't notice his passing, tho a soldier died today.
When the politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing and proclaim they were great,
Papers tell their life stories from the time they were young,
But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.
In the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land,
One guy breaks his promises and cons his fellow man,
But the ordinary fellow who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country and offers up his life.
A politicians stipend and style in which he lives,
Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that he gives,
While the ordinary soldier who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps a pension small.
It's so easy to forget them, for it was so long ago,
That the old Bill's of our country went to battle, but we know
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys.
Who won for us the freedom that our country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger with your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician with his ever shifting stand,
Or would you perfer a slodier who has sworn to defend,
His home, his kin and country and would fight right to the end?
He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again,
For when countries are in conflict then we find the soldiers part,
Is to clean up all the troubles politicians start,
If we cannot do him honor while he is here to hear praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days,
Perhaps just a simple headline in a paper that would say,
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY!"
~Author Unknown~
Email: robertcortes63@yahoo.com
