![\"Family](\"http:\/\/theaposition.com\/robertfagan\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/33\/2019\/11\/Family-Scans-207-298-400x300.jpg\")
\nThis young soldier, author, Malcolm A. Schweiker, Jr. would be killed in combat shortly after penning this beautiful poem.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Malcolm Alderfer Schweiker, Jr. of Worcester, Pennsylvania was the son my Grandfather never had (his oldest nephew) and the favorite older cousin that my Mother simply adored. A tall, uncommonly gifted, athletic leader who always put others first, young Malcolm served in World War II and penned these poignant words shortly before his death from a gunshot to the throat in Okinawa. I think of him often and always every Memorial Day and Veterans Day: His last letter home was written from a fox hole in Okinawa, describing the constant “gun and shot and shell” he faced. Six days later, he was killed by a Japanese sniper. Perhaps as JFK was inspired by the wartime death of his older brother Joseph Kennedy, Jr., younger brother Richard Schweiker dedicated much of his life to public service as a 4-term Congressman, 2-term Senator, and President Reagan’s Secretary of Health & Human Services. Richard Schweiker was a widely admired leader who would often work with the “opposition party” in particular to advance health care and opportunity in America.<\/p>\n May young Malcolm’s words inspire you toward peace as much as they have me and thank you to all who have served that we might “once again o’er all the world … see the flag of peace unfurled.” Happy Veterans Day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\n**
\nO God
\nWho makes the flowers and trees,
\nthe wintry blast, the summer breeze,
\nHave mercy on us poor mortals, who
\nthrough misdeeds many and good deeds few,
\nhave kindled hate and fanned the wrath
\nthat caused peaceful nations to tread the path
\nof bomb and gun and shot and shell,
\nof death and pain and living hell.
\nHelp us to find the love that Thou
\ndidst show, when on Thy humble brow
\na crown of thorns Thou wore, that we
\nmight find lasting peace in eternity.
\nHelp us, that when that love we find
\nwe pass it on to all mankind.
\nAnd once again o’er all the world
\nwe see the flag of peace unfurled.
\n**<\/p>\n