05/25/2026
As Memorial Day comes to a close, I want to leave you with a powerful poem shared this morning by Mrs. Micki Gaertner titled “Old Lion.”
The poem was written by her husband, Jim Gaertner, a friend, an American patriot and Vietnam War Veteran.
“OLD LION” by Jim Gaertner
We are older now. Some have gray hair; some have no hair.
Most of us are a little "thick" around the middle. Some have beards (also gray) and long hair. Some are clean shaven.
Some dress conventionally, others wear remnants of old jungle fatigue shirts or field jac-kets. Almost all wear "boonie hats" or ball caps signifying combat service in that jungle war.
We mostly cannot remember what we did yesterday but we clearly remember where we were and what we did over 50 years ago - for those memories are forever seared into our souls and in our night-mares.
Some of us are white, black, brown, yellow, red, but it never makes any difference for we are all Brothers and always will be until we all gather again one day in Valhalla.
Sometimes, we still gather together in small groups over a cup of coffee, or on porches, decks or patios to share adult beverages. We share stories from long ago — the good and the bad - for we were once "young lions," hunters, dangerous and deadly.
Always we remember our fallen Brothers, and we all have that "thousand yard stare
Yes, we are now "old lions," moving a little slower these days but still standing strong and proud for "we were soldiers once and young."
That is all.
SGT ROCK