THE BOY'S OF AMES BRIGADE

By Dwight E. Dovel Col 75th OVI Re-enactors

THE SUN'S GOLDEN RAYS GLISTEN ON THE GRASSY KNOLL,

WHERE NOW ONLY GREAT STATUES REMAIN,

THE BLOOD STAINED GRASS HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH DEW,

WHERE SO MANY OF LINCOLN'S BOYS WERE SLAIN.

ACROSS THE EMPTY FIELDS BEFORE YOU,

SO MANY BRAVE BOYS DID FALL,

FAR FROM HOME AND THE ONES THEY LOVED,

UNABLE TO HEAR THEIR DESPERATE CALLS.

THERE COMES A TIME WHEN A SOLDIER MUST FIGHT,

AND FOR HIS SAFETY...........AT HOME THEY WILL PRAY,

BUT FOR MANY A GOOD MAN OF AMES BRIGADE,

JULY 1ST WOULD BE THEIR JUDGMENT DAY.

ON THIS SPOT WHERE WE STAND, A GREAT BATTLE DID RAGE,

FOR SO MANY IT WOULD BECOME THEIR GRAVE.

MEN LIKE "FLOWER" AND "BARLOW" TO NAME A FEW,

WOULD FALL, WHERE OUR "BLOOD STAINED BANNER" DID WAVE.

TODAY, WITH PRIDE, WE HONOR THEIR SACRIFICE,

TO WAVE FLAGS AND UTTERS FINE WORDS.

TO READ OUT LOUD THE "ROLL OF HONOR"

FOR OUR BOYS WHO DIED IN GETTYSBURG!

BUT HOW CAN YOU PAY TRIBUTE TO MEN SUCH AS THESE?

WHAT EVER WE DO, CANNOT SUFFICE!!

THEY WILLING MARCHED TO DEATH'S FRONT DOOR,

AND WILLING PAID WITH THE ULTIMATE PRICE.

HOW MANY OF US WOULD BE SO BRAVE,

TO STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER ON THIS HILL?

KNOWING THAT TODAY, MAY BE YOUR LAST,

IF IN FACT.....................IT BE GOD'S WILL.

SO HOW DO WE HONOR THEIR SACRIFICE?

I THINK THE MOST FITTING AND PROPER THING TO SAY,

"THEY GAVE UP ALL THEIR TOMORROW'S,"

"SO WE COULD HAVE ALL OUR TODAY'S"