Poem on Vietnam Veterans that were killed in action...

I wrote the following poem; it is dedicated to all Vietnam Veterans that were killed in action (KIA).  It is taken from my book: Tragedy and Triumph at Sun Valley.

To My Brothers...

Side by side we stood,
Black or white, it made no difference.
Catholic, Protestant, Jew, or atheist,
I may not have liked you, but I loved you.

Only God can give and only God can take away,
But Charlie took and never gave.
Why did my bunker-mate die and I live?
To fulfill my dreams but not his?

Yet he is with me always -- in my dreams,
Not wanted there, as I struggle to sleep.
Lord help me to live and not just exist;
Take this burden from my soul.

Have mercy on them that stayed,
Some here, some there.
Arlington is their home now,
As mine will sometime be.

E. DeLalla

Do our rights come from the government?

The government, through the courts, grants us, and enforces our rights.

The above statement is false!

The job of the government is to guarantee our rights; it doesn't grant our rights to us.

Further, the courts have no authority over our natural rights.

Those that argue that the courts (the government) can determine if we have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, are in grave error.

The simplest of answers is that our natural rights come from our Creator, our God, and not the government or the courts.

When Kagan was before the Senate Judiciary committee (as a nominee to the Supreme Court) she was asked the question: what are your views of natural rights?

Her answer was astonishing.

She told those senators that she had no views on natural rights!

Let me repeat that: she said she had no views on natural rights.

Right then and there, those senators -- after picking up their respective jaws off the floor -- should have immediately rejected her nomination.   Instead, she is now on the court, and will be for 20, 30, or 40 years, there, to do more damage to our natural rights, especially, the right to life.  The most fundamental of all rights.

I must ask again: God have mercy on our country.

E. DeLalla  

Is all the news bad?

Reversing the question: is there any good news out there?

The answer is yes -- it has to be yes!   Why?   Because it would be easy -- really easy -- to crawl into a cave and just quit.  The events occurring in the world on a daily basis would be enough to lead us to give in, and despair.

But quit?

We can't to that.  If we did just quit, we, as a society, would deny that good exists.  It exists in the form of our good God, Who, despite using our free wills mostly for evil; for selfish acts, He hasn't deserted us -- we, for the most part, have deserted Him!

But!  As long as we have breath in us, there is hope.

We have to recognize the bad news; the evil things that happen, and do what we can to change, not only the bad news into good news, and evil into good, but also recognize that we have to start with ourselves.  We cannot do for others, if we don't first do for ourselves.  Charity, it is said, begins at home.

Think about this: how do we treat our immediate family members?   Our parents, grandparents, sons, daughters, and extended family, our neighbors...

How can we take up other causes, as good and virtuous as they may be, if we neglect our own physical and spiritual well-being, and that of our family's?  It's not going to work.

Pray for your family, our country, and, yes, pray for yourself!

E. DeLalla  

Gun Control?

Chicago, with, perhaps, the toughest gun control laws on the books, had 38 shootings, and 8 fatalities over the Memorial Day weekend.

Was there much or any coverage in the liberal media?  I didn't hear or read it.

I think I have the answer: the mayor of Chicago is the ultra-liberal Democrat, Rahm Emanuel, the former chief of staff of Obama.

Now, just think if the mayor was a conservative Republican!  He would have been tarred and feathered, and run out of town on a rail!  But the deep-stater, Rahm, is exempt from any such actions, let alone any criticism.

So, if you think there is no bias in the "news" these days, I have a bridge for sale....

As you can now see, "gun control" only further ties the hands of LAW ABIDING citizens, not the OUTLAWS.

Does anyone think that the bad guys: the gangster, the drug dealer, the murderer, the bank robber, the kidnapper, the rapist, the mugger will turn in their weapons, whether they be guns, knives, machetes, baseball bats, cast-iron frying pans, etc.?

I think not.

If the bad guy wants to buy a handgun, or rifle, or shotgun, or whatever, all he has to do is to put the word out on the street, and, for the right amount of filthy lucre, he gets what he wants.

Don't you think that the esteemed mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, knows that?  Of course he does.  So why doesn't he crush the bad guys?   Because it re-enforces his argument for more -- that's right -- more gun restrictions in the former playground of Al Capone.    

Remember, this is all about CONTROL!  Control of weapons (guns and such), and, ultimately, control of the people themselves.  If it can happen in Chicago, it can happen anywhere, even in the "Live Free or Die" state of New Hampshire.

And as each day goes by, I am more convinced that we just might have to fight for our rights -- or die.

Does that sound a little extreme?   Perhaps, but I can ask the question this way: would you (and I) allow ourselves to "live" under such a tyranny without a fight?

Remember the movie: Red Dawn?   Think it can't happen here?

I'll let you folks answer that question...

E. DeLalla

What is happening to the "boy" scouts?

One of the last institutions in the country that could be counted on to be a bastion of masculinity as well as a place for the development of male youth to gain knowledge and virtue so very needed to face an ever-changing, hostile world, has now become something unrecognizable, bordering on the unnatural.

This sad turn of events has caused many parents (why not all parents?) to seek other alternatives to help guide their youthful boys into manhood, and away from an agenda that is sure to destroy that common sense knowledge and virtue as mentioned above.

Unfortunately, the modernists and their minions -- and that includes the homosexual, lesbian and baby killing organizations -- have almost completely infiltrated the-once-honored and revered Boy Scouts (and Girl Scouts!).

So, parents, make up your collective minds, and get your male children out of the "boy" scouts, and into one of the many and fine budding organizations now available for the development of boys (and girls).

I beg God to have mercy on our country for this, and so many other abominations now festering like an uncontrollable gangrene, that must be cut out, lest the entire body is consumed and destroyed.

E. DeLalla  

The value of friendship...

What is a friend?

I could also ask: what is love?

In my opinion, the two are synonymous.

Friends are special people, and differ somewhat from loving thy neighbor, because there is a deeper bond between the two.   Yes, a bond that transcends love of neighbor or charity.  This bond is mysterious, as faith is also a mystery.

When I was in the military, there were some men who I didn't like, but I loved them, and was willing to fight and die with or for them.

Friends can be two males or two females, but there is a very special bond between a male and a female; a man and a woman.  This bond is not of the carnal nature, that is reserved for husband and wife, but it does signify the willingness to sacrifice; care about; worry about; feel sadness when the other is sad, just as in marriage.

As far as the man is concerned, there is the sense of chivalry toward his lady friend; a sense of wanting to protect, respect and honor her.

And for the woman, she knows that he has her best interests at heart, and is dependable; always there for her.   What a feeling!

Friendship is a special gift, if you have it, nurture it, relish it, and above all, love your friend.

E. DeLalla

The Easter Miracle... a short story for children

                   The Easter Miracle, a short story for children..1/6/2018

         The weather was unusually cool for April, April 1^st, that is, and this April 1^st was not only “April Fools” day, but on this April 1^st, it was also Easter Sunday.

         (And wouldn’t you think that Easter Sunday would be a lot more observed and important than “April Fools” day?)

         Audrey, Tammi, and their good playmate-friend, Millie, were getting all dressed up prim and proper by their mothers to attend church services; the Catholics too, would attend Mass on that special day when, that once-little-baby, Jesus, had all grown up then died for everyone so that one day they may be with Him forever.   

         Even Jewish parents and their families (that attended synagogue the day before on Saturday), would allow their children to participate in that once- a-year event known as the Easter Egg Hunt, held at the Washington Memorial Park, named in honor of our first president, George Washington.

         But one of their other little friends, Missy, was not allowed to play with them because her dad had been arguing with Audrey’s dad, over the last couple of weeks, about a rose bush right smack on the property line that separated their homes in the quaint little town of Westminster (Vermont), just a hop, skip, and a jump over the border from New Hampshire. 

         “Funny,” how some grownups can argue over a silly little rose bush!  But argue they did!

         Missy was very disappointed, of course, not being able to be with her friends, but her father, Bill, wasn’t about to lose this argument with Roger (Audrey’s dad).

         To Bill and Roger, it was the principal of the thing: on whose property was that tiny rose bush growing? 

         Bill and Roger broke out the property maps that the town provided, along with the surveyor’s maps thinking that they were precise and exact, so they thought. 

         Both dads said that the rose bush was on each of their properties.

         But how could that be?

         It couldn’t!  That’s how!

         So, either Bill or Roger was wrong!  

         Or!  

         Maybe the surveyor’s lines were wrong?

         In any event, as usually happens in such crazy arguments, the children suffer.  Fortunately, the only “suffering” was not being able to have Missy sit with them at church. 

         Even though both dads knew that the little bush was a rose bush, it hadn’t blossomed because of the unusually cool – some might call it cold – temperatures for that time of year.  In fact, many other flower- and fruit-bearing bushes hadn’t bloomed either also because of the lower than normal temperatures.  Even the trees were far behind in budding their new leaves!  After church services, the families were going to a community brunch (a combination of breakfast and lunch!) to break the fasting of the night before.

         Even at the community brunch, it was obvious that Bill and Roger’s families purposely sat apart from each other: one family occupied a table at the far end of the hall away from where the other family was sitting!

         After all, which one was going to “give in” first?

         “Not me,” thought Bill; “Not me,” thought Roger!

         It seems that pride can get in the way of an awful lot of things!

         When Missy asked her mom and dad if she could explore the dessert table and look for a delicious piece of homemade apple pie, they said: “Sure!  And if you find two, bring that back too!”  The second piece of pie was for her dad.  It seems Missy’s mom was on a diet, and didn’t want the temptation of sitting right next to her husband seeing him devour a luscious piece of wonderful smelling apple pie!  Come to think of it, she had no choice, unless she wanted to sit somewhere else, away from her husband!

         But Missy had additional plans by going to the dessert table: getting the attention of Audrey, Tammi and Millie sitting pretty darn close to that very same dessert table. 

         The “plan” worked! 

         Soon, the four friends met – even for only a few minutes – and hugged, and said how much they missed each other and prayed that their dads would get over this silly disagreement about the rose bush. 

         The brief get-together ended; Missy returned with not one, but two pieces of delicious, lovingly made apple pie, one for herself, and one for her dad…

         Well, eventually the brunch ended, and those families attending the festivities slowly started to leave the community center, and headed in the direction of the Washington Memorial Park to participate in the-always-fun Easter Egg Hunt…

         Again, this played right into the hands of the four young girls, as the signal to start “the hunt” was given, Audrey, Tammi, and Millie knew exactly where to go to meet Missy just out of sight of their parents.  Not that they were doing anything wrong, it’s just that they were good friends and loved each other very much.  It was difficult for them to be separated, not knowing how long this dispute with their dads was going to last!

         The girls found some of the Easter Eggs and deposited them into their little baskets to show their parents how hard-working and successful they were in the “hunt”.  

         Now, even though Roger and Bill were at odds with each other, the moms were just a little less concerned about on whose property that little rose bush resided.  Plus, they figured that the girls would find a way to stay in touch, especially at the egg hunt.  But kept such knowledge to themselves; not a peep to their husbands!

Plus, they figured that this silly feud couldn’t last too much longer; they were right.  Not because they could see into the future; nobody can, but events were going to take place that even they could not have imagined…

After about an hour and a half, all the eggs had been found and presented, and the contest winners announced.  As soon as the prizes were presented (Millie was one of the winners!), the moms and dads, boys and girls started to slowly depart the park and headed back to their homes for some more family fun and games, knowing that the next day, it was school-time as usual; back to studying, reading, writing and arithmetic…

It just so happened that Roger and Bill pulled into their driveways almost at the same time, so the girls were able to wave a last goodbye before entering their homes.

But wait!

Something was different about that little disputed rose bush…

As they parked their cars, they noticed that the rose bush had many big, bright, rosy-red roses sprouting all around it!

But that can’t be!

Just a couple of hours ago, that bush was all closed up; no buds, no flowers, due to the colder than usual temperatures.

What was going on here, they thought to themselves…

Both families were standing there in amazement.  Staring at that beautiful rose bush, unable to explain what they were seeing right in front of them.

Soon, more folks started to gather at their property, they too were amazed, unable to explain what they were experiencing…

Word quickly spread through the small town…

         The local radio station was tipped-off about the phenomenon of the beautiful, little rose bush, and soon broadcast the fantastic, seemingly unbelievable news!

         The tiny town newspaper – the Westminster Gazette – heard about the excitement, and sent a reporter to gather any information they could, hoping to get a “scoop” for the next day’s publication…

         I could see the headlines now: “The rose bush that could”!

         Was this a “miracle”?

         But who believes in miracles these days?

         Both Roger and Bill slowly approached the little rose bush, standing on either side of it, being careful not to step onto the others property.

         Heaven forbid!

         Soon, Audrey, Tammi, and Millie approached from their side of the property; and Missy approached from her side, standing less than two feet apart…

         Roger was the first to speak: “Bill, have you ever seen anything like this before?”

         “No, Roger, I can’t explain this; doesn’t make sense…

         “Just an hour or two ago, there was nothing here but a rose bush with no buds; no flowers.  I just can’t figure this one out.”

         “I wonder if someone is trying to tell us something,” said Roger.

         “I think we ought to take good care of this little miracle rose bush, regardless on whose property it’s on…”

         “I agree, Bill…”

         Bill spoke next…

         “Roger, I feel pretty stupid about arguing about this rose bush; I apologize.”

         “Me too, Bill; I apologize.”

         The two dads shook hands and wished each other a Happy Easter…

         All the girls were as happy as could be that their dads made up and shook hands!  Now they could be real friends again!

         And you just witnessed the real miracle of the little rose bush that could!

The End

E. DeLalla