GARDEN OF STONE

[Maureen K Clifford]

A story few Australians would know, that of #Francis D Milne, the only Aussie interred in the USA Arlington National Cemetery

GARDEN OF STONE … Maureen Clifford © The #Scribbly Bark Poet

The ‘ flowers of stone’ in serried rows stand tall - facing the sun
each day endless processions pass them by at Arlington,
and so the garden grows and grows, its beds tailored and neat
its peacefulness only disturbed by many marching feet.
Four hundred thousand share this place – interred with dignity
The Old Guard do the honours – veterans of the military.
Each day, watered with tears, a ‘flower’ is planted in the soil
and so each day the garden grows as more wars we embroil.

And in the garden buried deep one Aussie hero lies
Francis D Milne – a pilot who once flew our cobalt skies.
He shares with Sergeant Joseph Paul a casket and a plot.
They died together and were found – but separated – not.
New Guinea forests held them close, this harshest of frontiers
would not easily relinquish its prize of forty years .
‘twas 1989 saw them discovered and then named
from the tangled US aircraft wreckage jungles had reclaimed.

November 26th in 1942 they died,
their headstone in the garden tells us this. This place of pride.
The resting place of heroes, a nation’s hallowed ground,
serene and green and beautiful where blossom trees abound .
This son of Queensland far from home – interred in foreign soil,
the only Aussie buried here, who left this mortal coil
fighting for king and country far away from kin and home.
He rests forever – one more ‘flower’ in the garden of stone.




http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/milne.htm

[Cropduster]

Beautifully told, Maureen. I was not aware that an Aussie airman was buried at Arlington Cemetery.

It was touching to learn that the two pilots were buried together.

[Maureen K Clifford]

I found it interesting and had never heard the story of the name of Frank Milne before I lucked on this whilst researching for something else. Apparently they pay special respect each year to Frank which I think is a lovely thing to do. If you click on the link at the bottom of the poem it tells a little more.

[Jeff Thorpe]

As Allan has said, well written Maureen. Thanks for bringing Frank's story to us.

Regards, Jeff

[Maureen K Clifford]

Thanks Jeff for reading and commenting - I rather enjoy trying to interpret snippets of history into poetry.