A friend I went to school with went to Vietnam while I was in basic training and never came home. Roger Adkins family had a nice little farm about a half mile west of downtown Salem Va on Main Street. They had a few cattle and a hog lot right on Main Street. About 300 yards east was a beautiful little white frame Catholic Church where a Burger King now stands. A little to the east of their farm was a beautiful two story brick house with a side walk with over grown boxwoods down to Main Street. That is where a McDonalds now stands. Where the Adkins farm was is now an eye doctor’s office and a big parking lot.
Progress?
My wife and I went to a little country cemetery a few years ago. Not knowing where Roger was buried. I stopped got out of our car and saw a new bouquet of flowers that some had just left out of their garden or yard. I looked at them the name on the stone was Roger Dale Adkins. His high school picture was on the stone. Someone was still remembering Roger on Memorial Day after 50 years.
I was reminded of a Statler Brothers song The Wall. A few of the lines of the song go like this if you haven’t heard it.
I saw her off in the distance as she walked up to the wall.
In her hand she held so flowers as her tears began to fall.
Lord would please tell him he is more than a name on a wall.
Let’s not forget the friends and family we lost and not let them be just a name on the wall.
Lynwood
Progress?
My wife and I went to a little country cemetery a few years ago. Not knowing where Roger was buried. I stopped got out of our car and saw a new bouquet of flowers that some had just left out of their garden or yard. I looked at them the name on the stone was Roger Dale Adkins. His high school picture was on the stone. Someone was still remembering Roger on Memorial Day after 50 years.
I was reminded of a Statler Brothers song The Wall. A few of the lines of the song go like this if you haven’t heard it.
I saw her off in the distance as she walked up to the wall.
In her hand she held so flowers as her tears began to fall.
Lord would please tell him he is more than a name on a wall.
Let’s not forget the friends and family we lost and not let them be just a name on the wall.
Lynwood
