A mother's poem written to her son while in harm's way.
This poem was written by Gladys Schulenberg, the mother of Flight Officer David Schulenberg in April of 1945.
Yesterday he was kid in ragged pants
With always a dirty face
Today he has grown to be a man
to fight in life's long race!
Yesterday he came in, with clothes all torn
A bump and a bruised knee
Today it's a scrap, up in the blue
From which he could not be free!
Yesterday he played in an empty lot
Having alot of fun
Today he's on a different field
And the score is a deadly one!
Yesterday he fished in the little stream
Watching the water so still
Today he is looking for bigger game
Death and destruction to spill!
Yesterday he built big model planes
Intent to make them right
Today he flies them way up there
Daring his all in the flight
Yesterday he went to the movie show
Happiness and joy in his eyes
Today he is in a show, all his own
Up in those vast blue skies
Yesterday he eagerly read a book
Sitting lazy in a chair
Today large charts and maps he scans
Our life and freedom to spare
Yesterday his gun he took
As across the fields he went
Today he's a target of hate and greed
On which his arm is bent
Yesterday he marched away
So proud in army dress
Today he's giving all he has
No one would do less
Yesterday he left home and loved ones
And everywhere was sorrow
Today were praying, everyone
There will be a bright tomorrow
