OLD SAILORS
(Author unknown)

OLD SAILORS SIT AND CHEW THE FAT
ABOUT THINGS THAT USED TO BE
 OF THE THINGS THEY'VE SEEN
THE PLACES THEY'VE BEEN
WHEN THEY VENTURED OUT TO SEA.

THEY REMEMBERED FRIENDS FROM LONG AGO
THE TIMES THEY HAD BACK THEN
THE MONEY THEY SPENT
THE BEER THEY DRANK,
IN THEIR DAY AS SAILING MEN.

THEIR LIVES ARE LIVED IN DAYS GONE BY
WITH THOUGHTS THAT FOREVER LAST
OF BELL BOTTOM BLUES
WINGED WHITE HATS
AND GOOD TIMES IN THEIR PAST.

THEY RECALL LONG NIGHTS WITH A MOON SO BRIGHT
FAR OUT ON A LONELY SEA
THE THOUGHTS THEY HAD
AS  YOUTHFUL LADS
WHEN THEIR LIVES WERE WILD AND FREE.

THEY KNEW SO WELL HOW THEIR HEARTS WOULD SWELL
WHEN OLD GLORY FLUTTERED PROUD AND FREE
THE UNDERWAY PENNANT
SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT
AS THEY PLOWED THROUGH AN ANGRY SEA.

THEY TALKED OF THE CHOW OL' COOKIE WOULD MAKE
AND THE SHRILL OF THE BOSUN'S PIPE
HOW SALT SPRAY WOULD FALL
LIKE SPARKS FROM HELL
WHEN A STORM STRUCK IN THE NIGHT.

THEY REMEMBER OLD SHIPMATES ALREADY GONE
WHO FOREVER HOLD A SPOT IN THEIR HEART.
WHEN SAILORS WERE BOLD
AND FRIENDSHIPS WOULD HOLD
UNTIL DEATH RIPPED THEM APART.

THEIR SAILING DAYS ARE GONE AWAY
NEVER AGAIN WILL THEY CROSS THE BROW
THEY HAVE NO REGRETS
THEY KNOW THEY ARE BLESSED
FOR HONORING A SACRED VOW.

THEIR NUMBERS GROW LESS WITH EACH PASSING DAY
AS THE FINAL MUSTER BEGINS.
THERE'S NOTHING TO LOSE
ALL HAVE PAID THEIR DUES
AND THEY'LL SAIL WITH SHIPMATES AGAIN.

I'VE HEARD THEM SAY BEFORE GETTING UNDERWAY
THAT THERE'S STILL SOME SAILING TO DO
THEY'LL SAY WITH A GRIN
THAT THEIR SHIP HAS COME IN
AND THE LORD IS COMMANDING THE CREW.

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N

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MM3 Drew A. Nieminem
5001 West 66th Ave
Arvada, CO 80003-6333
Tel. 303 426-4876

BT3 W D Ferrill
281 Palmer Road -
Pleasanton, TX 78064
Tel. 830-393-2398

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RD3 A. B. Anzaldua
U. S. Embassy Bridgetown,
CMR 1014,
APO AA 34055

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H

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EM1/CWO4 Bobby Simpson
17676 SE 93rd Hawthorne Ave.
The Villages, FL 32162
352-259-9007

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W

D

Y

RD2 R E Dorholt
702 Friar Tuck Lane
Macon, GA 31220-2719

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SO3 L J Zimmers
1282 SW Borland RD
West Linn, OR 97068
Tel. 503-638-0149

CROSSED THE BAR

USCGC ANDROSCOGGIN
27 June 1973

RADM W. H. Stewart
30 November 2007

RECALLED TO DUTY ~ THE ETERNAL VOYAGE
(Author Unknown)

Bon Voyage to those who've set sail
We bid them farewell as we man the rail.
Let us be Joyous and let us not weep
For those who have now crossed over the deep.
When a Sailor's last roll call is made
His final embarking shant be delayed.
So lower the Colors, let them be furled
Each time a Sailor disembarks this world.
The crew onboard in Heaven awaits
The Eternal reunion of their mates.
They'll be welcomed home by those onboard
Moored in peaceful waters with the Lord.
As he approaches, he'll call "Ahoy! The ship!"
Now in safe harbor, an Eternal trip.
Then he'll hear "Sailor on deck!  Hoist the flag!,"
"Help him get settled!  Help stow his bag!,"
Be it known that it's a Divine remand
To ship in Heaven, ye Seafaring Man.
On permanent station forevermore
Peaceful duty for Veterans of war.
And when he's weighed anchor for the last time
We'll Honor his memory so sublime.
We'll all reminisce and hoist a brew
In a toast of Honor to the crew.

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