by
Neil Appleby
While listening to National Public Radio early on Election Day,
November 2, the following poem was read. I hope you enjoy it as
much as I did.
The Poor Voter on Election Day
by John Greenleaf Whittier
The proudest now is but my peer,
The highest, not more high;
To-day, of all the weary year,
A king of men am I.
To-day alike are great and small,
The nameless and the known
My palace is the people’s hall,
The ballot-box my throne!
Who serves to-day upon the list
Reside the served shall stand;
Alike the brown and wrinkled fist,
The gloved and dainty hand!
The rich is level with the poor,
The weak is strong to-day;
And sleekest broadcloth counts no more
Than homespun frock of gray.
To-day let pomp and vain pretense
My stubborn right abide;
I set a plain man’s common sense
Against the pedant’s pride.
To-day shall simple manhood try
The strength of gold and land
The wide world has not wealth to buy
The power in my right hand!
While there’s a grief to seek redress,
Or balance to adjust,
Where weighs our living manhood less
Than Mammon’s vilest dust, - -
While there’s a right to need my vote
A wrong to sweep away,
Up! Clouted knee and ragged coat!
A man’s a man to-day!
Hospital Visit
On November 10, we celebrated the 229th birthday of the Marine
Corps by visiting hospitalized Marines at the National Naval Medical
Center in Bethesda, Maryland. We treated the Marines to two delicious
sheet cakes.
The BVA contingent included combat injured Marines, Executive
Director Tom Miller, Immediate Past President Joe Burns, and members
of Joe’s Vietnam Band of Brothers. Also in attendance were
former Army Captain John Sweeney, my driver for the occasion,
and our talented Communications Coordinator, Stuart Nelson.
Late in our three-hour visit, Commandant of the Marine Corps
League Helen Hicks and several Marines from the Marine Corps League
Department of Maryland joined us. It was a most rewarding visit!
White House Breakfast
Under ultra-tight security, my daughter, Betsy, escorted me through
the admissions maze at the White House. Inside the White House
we were directed by uniformed, epaulet-adorned nurses representing
all branches of the uniformed services.
Egg casserole, smoked salmon, and ham-stuffed biscuits were but
a few of the delicacies that were part of our breakfast presentation.
We mingled with known Cabinet Secretaries and uniformed military
leaders. Medal of Honor recipients were identifiable by their
medals, which were attached to a star-filled, light-blue lariat.
We lined up, waiting to be admitted to The Green Room for our
five-second photo-op with the President.
Arlington National Cemetery
A thunderous 21-howitzer salute signaled the arrival of the Commander-in-Chief
at Arlington National Cemetery. We witnessed the Presidential
wreath presentation at the Tomb of the Unknowns. We then joined
other members of the Veterans Day National Committee on the amphitheater
stage. Loud, sustained applause erupted from the amphitheater
proper when the Master of Ceremonies announced: "Ladies and
gentlemen, the President of the United States!" The standing
room only crowd was the largest I have seen in about 20 years
of visiting Arlington.
The climax of the day occurred when National Field Service Director
Steve Matthews and I placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
Escorted by two members of a local VFW post impeccably clad in
their white uniforms, Steve and I marched proudly. Thank you for
the opportunity to represent all blinded veterans at this solemn
ceremony.
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