IGTNT: No News Today, Let Us Remember

These hearts were woven of human joys and cares,
Washed marvellously with sorrow, swift to mirth.
The years had given them kindness. Dawn was theirs,
And sunset, and the colours of the earth.
These had seen movement, and heard music; known
Slumber and waking; loved; gone proudly friended;
Felt the quick stir of wonder; sat alone;
Touched flowers and furs and cheeks. All this is ended.
There are waters blown by changing winds to laughter
And lit by the rich skies, all day. And after,
Frost, with a gesture, stays the waves that dance
And wandering loveliness. He leaves a white
Unbroken glory, a gathered radiance,
A width, a shining peace, under the night.

~ Rupert Brooke (1887-1915)

There were no casualty announcements on Thursday, for which we all are so grateful.  How sad it is, though, that we are grateful for a day on which there are no new casualty announcements.  But because there are not, let us offer gratitude and thanks to those for whom there were announcements earlier this month, silently and reverently.

Bless and honor them:

Staff Sgt. Clay A. Craig, 22, of Mesquite, Texas

Sgt. Merlin German, 22 of Manhattan, New York

Staff Sgt. Bryan E. Bolander, 26, of Bakersfield, California

Cpt. Andrew. R. Pearson, 32, of Billings, Montana

Spc. Ronald J. Tucker, 21, of Fountain, Colorado

Sgt. Jerry L. DeLoach, 45, of Jackson, Georgia

Staff Sgt. Chad A. Caldwell, 24, of Spokane, Washington

Sgt. 1st Class Lawrence D. Ezell, 30, of Portland, Texas

Pfc. Corey L. Hicks, 22, of Glendale, Arizona

Cpl. Jeremy R. Gullett, 22, of Greenup, Kentucky

Sgt. Isaac Palomarez, 26, of Loveland, Colorado

Lance Cpl. Casey L. Casanova, 22, of McComb, Mississippi

Cpl. Miguel A. Guzman, 21, of Norwalk, California

Lance Cpl. James F. Kimple, 21, of Carroll, Ohio

Sgt. Glen E. Martinez, 31, of Boulder, Colorado

Spc. Alex D. Gonzalez, 21, of Mission, Texas

Pfc. Aaron J. Ward, 19, of San Jacinto, California

Spc. Mary J. Jaenichen, 20, of Temecula, California

Pfc. Ara T. Deysie, 18, of Parker, Arizona

Sgt. Joseph A. Ford, 23, of Knox, Indiana

Pvt. Matthew W. Brown, 20, of Zelienople, Pennsylvania

Staff Sgt. Victor M. Cota, 33, of Tucson, Arizona

Sgt. John K. Daggett, 21, of Phoenix, Arizona

Cpl. Jessica A. Ellis, 24, of Bend, Oregon

The young dead soldiers do not speak.
Nevertheless, they are heard in the still houses:
who has not heard them?
They have a silence that speaks for them at night
and when the clock counts.
They say: We were young. We have died.
Remember us.
They say: We have done what we could
but until it is finished it is not done.
They say: We have given our lives but until it is finished
no one can know what our lives gave.
They say: Our deaths are not ours: they are yours,
they will mean what you make them.
They say: Whether our lives and our deaths were for
peace and a new hope or for nothing we cannot say,
it is you who must say this.
We leave you our deaths. Give them their meaning.
We were young, they say. We have died; remember us.

by Archibald MacLeish