IT’S TODAY: As part of the Memorial Day observance, we pass
along a poem sent us from Donna (Toothman) Newman of Leesburg, Fla.
She writes, “It would make me very happy if you could use the
enclosed poem for a Memorial Day paper.”

“My father, O.E. Toothman, a longtime resident of Bradford,
wrote this when his son, O.R. ‘Ray’ Toothman, also a longtime
resident of Bradford, was in Korea in 1952.

“I am the daughter of Mr. O.E. Toothman, and I know he’d be
happy to have us share this with all of our troops everywhere. I
thank you from the bottom of my heart. My father died in 1977, but
his son is still alive and living in Taft, Calif.”

It’s called, “Bells of Freedom.”

“May the bells of peace keep ringing

O’er this Native Land of ours

May the boys that won the victory

Ever tred among the flowers.

“Though the roads were rough and rocky

And their trails were drenched in blood

Of our youth who fought so bravely

Youthful Flowers just in bud.

“Marching onward ever onward

Never faltering in their stride

Thinking only of their country

And our Flag, the Nation’s Pride.

“That the curse of war be ended

And our homes be made secure

Free at last from hateful Nations

Ever knocking at our door.

“Let us think for just a moment

What the horror of war has brought

And stand firmly in protection

Of our Peace so dearly bought.

“Now our ships can sail the oceans

Rocking gently to and fro

Laughter takes the place of worry

Of our dangerous deadly Foe.

“But the ones who stayed out yonder

Far away across the deep

May the Heavens Guarding Angels

Walk among them as they sleep.

“Now their work on Earth has ended

Resting at their Home on High

Gazing proudly at Old Glory

As She waves beneath the sky.”

TODAY’S QUOTE: “We need to pursue the news like we deserve the
First Amendment,” said David Zeeck, executive editor, the News
Tribune, Tacoma, Wash., 2006.

As always, today’s quote is courtesy of the Freedom Forum,
dedicated to free press, free speech, free spirit.