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MURRAY COUNTY POETRY

Poems by Murray Poets and Poems About Murray County
JERRY
by Kathryn Jordan


Jerry, by Kathryn Jordan. Jerry Jordan was killed in the Vietnam War, his sister Kathryn wrote this soon after the family learned of the tragedy.

We celebrated Christmas of 1966 in December
Momma, Daddy, and all eight of us kids
It was the best Christmas I ever remember

In January Momma and Daddy drove him to the airport
to fly so far away
Boarding the plane he turned and looked at them with delay

Momma cried for weeks, I couldn't understand why
I just thought he was brave and not afraid to fly

Then in August on a hot summer's day
A green Army car pulled in our driveway

We knew what he wanted, he wouldn't go away
Lord how could this be it was Momma and Wint's birthday

He had but one message, we didn't want to hear
As he took Momma and Daddy's hands he read it loud and clear

Their hands all tight together was more than we could stand
As he told them their son had died protecting this land

It broke Momma's heart and took part of Daddy's away
Momma's tears filled the hands of a stranger that day

Our hopes of him coming home had finally come true
The flag that covered his body was red, white and blue

They folded the flag neatly as the bugles began to sound
They handed it to Momma and they placed him in the ground

We celebrated Christmas of 1967 in December
Momma, Daddy, and just seven of us kids
It was the saddest Christmas I ever remember


Note: This poem was written by a very young Kathryn Jordan in 1968. Her brother, Jerry Jordan had been present to complete the family in 1966. He was killed in Vietnam in 1967, rendering the family incomplete.

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