Next of Kin


            I cannot say, and will not say
            That he is dead. He is just away!

            With a cheery smile and a wave of the hand,
            He has wandered into an unknown land.

            And left us dreaming how very fair
            It needs must be, since he lingers there.

            And you - oh you, who the wildest yearn
            For the old time step and the glad return -

            Think of him faring on, as dear
            In the love of There as the love of Here;

            And loyal still, as he gave the blows
            Of his warrior strength to his country's foes -





            Mild and gentle, as he was brave,
            When the sweetest love of his life he gave

            To simple things; where the violets grew
            Pure as the eyes they likened to,

            The touches of his hands have strayed
            As reverently as his lips have prayed;

            When the little brown thrush that harshly chirred
            Was dear to him as the mocking-bird;

            And he pitied as much as a man in pain
            A writhing honey-bee wet with rain.

            Think of him still as the same, I say:
            He is not dead - he is just - away!


            "Away" by James Whitcomb Riley.




            In Memory of
            SgtMaj E.L.Banks, USMC Retired
            1926 - 1996
            Served in WWII, Korea, Viet Nam,
            U.S.Embassies, 3rd Recon,3rd Marine Div.
            Awarded Silver Star, Purple Hearts, Bronze Stars

            Semper Fi


            Photo of millennium celebration over
            the Iwo Jima Memorial by Kamenko Pajic/AP

            All other graphics from
            Regulator 7's Military Graphics Center


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