• Submit Poetry
  • Support SCP
  • About Us
  • Members
  • Join
Thursday, October 2, 2025
Society of Classical Poets
  • Poems
    • Beauty
    • Culture
    • Satire
    • Humor
    • Children’s
    • Art
    • Ekphrastic
    • Epic
    • Epigrams and Proverbs
    • Human Rights in China
    • Music
    • Performing Arts
    • Riddles
    • Science
    • Song Lyrics
    • The Environment
    • The Raven
    • Found Poems
    • High School Poets
    • Terrorism
    • Covid-19
  • Poetry Forms
    • Sonnet
    • Haiku
    • Limerick
    • Villanelle
    • Rondeau
    • Pantoum
    • Sestina
    • Triolet
    • Acrostic
    • Alexandroid
    • Alliterative
    • Blank Verse
    • Chant Royal
    • Clerihew
    • Rhupunt
    • Rondeau Redoublé
    • Rondel
    • Rubaiyat
    • Sapphic Verse
    • Shape Poems
    • Terza Rima
  • Great Poets
    • Geoffrey Chaucer
    • Emily Dickinson
    • Homer
    • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
    • Dante Alighieri
    • John Keats
    • John Milton
    • Edgar Allan Poe
    • William Shakespeare
    • William Wordsworth
    • William Blake
    • Robert Frost
  • Love Poems
  • Contests
  • SCP Academy
    • Educational
    • Teaching Classical Poetry—A Guide for Educators
    • Poetry Forms
    • The SCP Journal
    • Books
No Result
View All Result
Society of Classical Poets
  • Poems
    • Beauty
    • Culture
    • Satire
    • Humor
    • Children’s
    • Art
    • Ekphrastic
    • Epic
    • Epigrams and Proverbs
    • Human Rights in China
    • Music
    • Performing Arts
    • Riddles
    • Science
    • Song Lyrics
    • The Environment
    • The Raven
    • Found Poems
    • High School Poets
    • Terrorism
    • Covid-19
  • Poetry Forms
    • Sonnet
    • Haiku
    • Limerick
    • Villanelle
    • Rondeau
    • Pantoum
    • Sestina
    • Triolet
    • Acrostic
    • Alexandroid
    • Alliterative
    • Blank Verse
    • Chant Royal
    • Clerihew
    • Rhupunt
    • Rondeau Redoublé
    • Rondel
    • Rubaiyat
    • Sapphic Verse
    • Shape Poems
    • Terza Rima
  • Great Poets
    • Geoffrey Chaucer
    • Emily Dickinson
    • Homer
    • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
    • Dante Alighieri
    • John Keats
    • John Milton
    • Edgar Allan Poe
    • William Shakespeare
    • William Wordsworth
    • William Blake
    • Robert Frost
  • Love Poems
  • Contests
  • SCP Academy
    • Educational
    • Teaching Classical Poetry—A Guide for Educators
    • Poetry Forms
    • The SCP Journal
    • Books
No Result
View All Result
Society of Classical Poets
No Result
View All Result
Home Poetry Beauty

A Memorial Day Poem: ‘Friends on the Wall’ by Roy E. Peterson

May 31, 2021
in Beauty, Culture, Poetry
A A
8

.

To my friends on the wall who fought valiantly,
We thank all the dead for ensuring we’re free.
Remembrance, though fleeting, is etched on this wall.
Above waves Old Glory. You answered his call.
 
With honor you fought, and your life’s blood you gave.
Your name’s on the wall, wherever your grave.
You knew that for freedom there’d be no regret.
You left us with memories we’ll never forget.
 
We know that your family’s still grieving for you
Who went off to war for the red, white, and blue.
You fought the good fight, and you died not in vain.
This Memorial Day, we all share in your pain.

.

.

LTC Roy E. Peterson is a writer, retired U.S. Army Military Intelligence Officer, Foreign Area Officer, and Foreign Commercial Officer who currently resides in Texas.

ShareTweetPin
The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary.
Read Our Comments Policy Here
Next Post
poetry/homeschooling/teachers guide

Learning Poetry: A Guide for Students, Teachers, and Homeschoolers

‘A Reply to the Inner Self’ and Other Poetry by Douglas Thornton

Two Poems on Old Age, by C.B. Anderson

‘Far Across the Plains’ by Zachary Dilks

'Resist!' by Joe Tessitore

Comments 8

  1. TONIA KALOURIA says:
    4 years ago

    Heartfelt eloquence. Thank you.

    Reply
  2. Roy E. Peterson says:
    4 years ago

    Bless you, Tonia!

    Reply
  3. Rohini Sunderam says:
    4 years ago

    Fabulous! So moving and so well reflected in the art.

    Reply
    • Roy E. Peterson says:
      4 years ago

      I have many friends on the wall. Evan Mantyk found a beautiful work of art to go with the poem.

      Reply
  4. Susan Jarvis Bryant says:
    4 years ago

    Roy, thank you for your humble and heart-touching poem of respect and gratitude for all those who fought for our freedoms. And thank you, too, for your service, Sir.

    Reply
    • Roy E. Peterson says:
      4 years ago

      Bless you, Susan! You are a special poet with wonderful skills. I saw your poems published yesterday. As usual, I am in awe of your thoughts and how you express them!

      Reply
      • Susan Jarvis Bryant says:
        4 years ago

        Roy, thank you very much for your appreciative words – they’re an inspiration.

        Reply
  5. Margaret Coats says:
    4 years ago

    The Army men I served with were all returned survivors, but I know one name on the wall–the older brother of a childhood friend. That family was so much stronger than I knew at the time; together they grieved for an only son and only sibling. Thank you, Colonel Peterson, for remembering them along with your friends and all the others we remember today.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Susan Jarvis Bryant Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. BDW on ‘Artificial Intelligence Versus Real Intelligence’: A Poem by Bruce Dale WiseOctober 1, 2025

    Can artificial intelligence compete with artificial ignorance?

  2. Debbie Hammond Lancaster on ‘The End of Fred the Thief’: A Poem by Terry NortonOctober 1, 2025

    You always inform and inspire me with your whimsical work, Terry. I must admit I was compelled to research Fred…

  3. Susan Jarvis Bryant on ‘Parroting the Party Line’ and Other Poetry by Susan Jarvis BryantOctober 1, 2025

    Yael, it's always lovely to hear from you, and it's extra lovely when you enjoy my poetry. Thank you!! You're…

  4. Susan Jarvis Bryant on ‘Parroting the Party Line’ and Other Poetry by Susan Jarvis BryantOctober 1, 2025

    Rohini, I'm grinning. Thank you!

  5. Susan Jarvis Bryant on ‘Parroting the Party Line’ and Other Poetry by Susan Jarvis BryantOctober 1, 2025

    Thank you very much, Cynthia. The villanelle seemed such an appropriate form for my message, which bears repeating. And I…

Facebook Twitter Youtube

Archive

Categories

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Submit Poetry
  • Become a Member
  • Members List
  • Support the Society
  • Advertisement Placement
  • Comments Policy
  • Terms of Use

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Poems
    • Beauty
    • Culture
    • Satire
    • Humor
    • Children’s
    • Art
    • Ekphrastic
    • Epic
    • Epigrams and Proverbs
    • Human Rights in China
    • Music
    • Performing Arts
    • Riddles
    • Science
    • Song Lyrics
    • The Environment
    • The Raven
    • Found Poems
    • High School Poets
    • Terrorism
    • Covid-19
  • Poetry Forms
    • Sonnet
    • Haiku
    • Limerick
    • Villanelle
    • Rondeau
    • Pantoum
    • Sestina
    • Triolet
    • Acrostic
    • Alexandroid
    • Alliterative
    • Blank Verse
    • Chant Royal
    • Clerihew
    • Rhupunt
    • Rondeau Redoublé
    • Rondel
    • Rubaiyat
    • Sapphic Verse
    • Shape Poems
    • Terza Rima
  • Great Poets
    • Geoffrey Chaucer
    • Emily Dickinson
    • Homer
    • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
    • Dante Alighieri
    • John Keats
    • John Milton
    • Edgar Allan Poe
    • William Shakespeare
    • William Wordsworth
    • William Blake
    • Robert Frost
  • Love Poems
  • Contests
  • SCP Academy
    • Educational
    • Teaching Classical Poetry—A Guide for Educators
    • Poetry Forms
    • The SCP Journal
    • Books

© 2025 SCP. WebDesign by CODEC Prime.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.