paper documents "Michigan's Fallen Heroes" -- 21 profiles

http://www.freep.com/news/obituaries/kcombo21_20040321.htm

Michigan's fallen heroes


From Taylor to the Keweenaw Peninsula, grieving families hold fast to their memories, instead of their loved ones

March 20, 2004



BY JEANNE MAY
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER



Most of them were from Michigan's smaller towns. Most of them never saw the inside of a college classroom.

Most of them had yet to celebrate a 40th birthday when they gave their last full measure of devotion in the war in Iraq.

Two-thirds of Michigan's 21 war dead lost their lives after President George W. Bush declared the end of major combat May 1 in a speech aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

But no matter where they came from or how they died, they were cut down in the prime of life in a land far away at places with names that sound strange to their devastated loved ones back home.

more, lots more ...

Requiem For The Masses
By The Association

Requiem aeternam, requiem aeternam

Mama, mama, forget your pies
Have faith they won't get cold
And turn your eyes to the bloodshot sky
Your flag is flying full

At half mast, for the matadors
Who turned their backs to please the crowd
And all fell before the bull

Red was the color of his blood flowing thin
Pallid white was the color of his lifeless skin
Blue was the color of the morning sky
He saw looking up from the ground where he died
It was the last thing ever seen by him

Kyrie Eleison

Mama, mama, forget your pies
Have faith they won't get cold
And turn your eyes to the bloodshot sky
Your flag is flying full

At half mast, for the matadors
Who turned their backs to please the crowd
And fell before the bull

Black and white were the figures that recorded him
Black and white was the newsprint he was mentioned in
Black and white was the question that so bothered him
He never asked, he was taught not to ask
But was on his lips as they buried him:

Rex tremendae majestatis?

Requiem aeternam, Requiem aeternam

To those who are familiar with this piece, one of the most moving and tearful I've ever heard, the final verse..."Rex Tremendae majestatis" was puzzling. It took me years to find out exactly what was meant. It comes from Mozart's "Requiem" and when read in full form, it will definitely bring pain to the hardest of hearts.

Rex tremendae majestatis,
qui salvandos savas gratis,
salve me, fons pietatis. 

English: King of tremendous majesty,
who freely saves those worthy ones,
save me, source of mercy?


BRING THEM HOME!

damn that bastard who put them there damn him to hell