I AM.....Norman Bowker

I am the chord around his neck
I wonder about the hand that slipped beneath mine

I hear his heart beat without sound

I see the boots of lead sink in the field

I want this feeling to go as clouds go in their direction

I am the chord around his neck

I pretend to be a train and move on

I feel my mind going numb as the memories keep beating & beating in my head

I touch a current of crystals.....& for once feel in heaven

I worry thinking of the day his body will sit beneath the earth

I cry as I hear the bells ring

I am the chord around his neck

I understand two seasons of autum have passed by

I say my home town is an empty station

I dream my father's desires towards me will flow like singing notes

I try to make my life a colored jar

I hope I go without air & pay for my guilt

I am the chord around his neck

I AM POEM

I am the fog after crystal drops hit the grass

I wonder when that soft rosy hand will come and guide me towards the light

I see the shadows causing me sweaty hands & twitchy eyes

I want the orangy rays to come through those leaves and hit my autum eyes

I am the fog after crystal drops hit the grass

I pretend to know where the end of the road is...but I don't

I feel like that one dandelion in the monterous grass field

I touch rough rocks but want to fell the cotton pedals of roses

I worry about what obstacle will come next and pause my journey

I cry...... looking over my shoulder back at the predators whos desire was to burn my hopes...but I smile over those tears

I am the fog after crystal drops hit the grass

I understand my path but at times feel like a cub without his mother

I say "I'm a quiter"

I dream of being a raven.....holding my head way up high

I try to yell but the sound is like the size of an ant

I hope to find the end of the road with a smile on my face

I am the fog after crystal drops hit the grass

Far Away From You

Interview

Name: Maria and Pedro Huerta

Age: Maria-45 Pedro-47

Country of Origin:Mexico

Maria and Pedro came to America for one reason, for better jobs and to earn money. Pedro didn't want to come alone so he took her sister Maria. Pedro and Maria came at first walking throught the desert. It was hard because Maria wasn't use to running through hot, sunny humid deserts. It caused Maria to get pain killing aches on her stomach and throwing up. Along with killing aches came the exhausting feeling that goes through one's feet. She would have cuts and blisters in the end of every hot day. While Maria and Pedro would now have to wait until the border patrol finished their shift and in between the brake tried going over the border. They were lucky to get through by the first try and then they were to meet up with the "coyote". He took the people to his house and they were there for a couple of days until money was send to Mari adn Pedro to take an airplane to Chicago. The "coyote's" wife dressed up Mari and Pedro to fool migration on the airport and get through it easier. Both of them made it safe and now are struggling throuhg life by working long days in factories. Pedro works at a factory making granola bars but his earnings help him pay on time. But Maria is now on layoff and her husband is the only one in charge. His earnings help more than enough to get through but she wants to go back and work to have more money.

THE MEDAL OF HONOR

“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” As I read this quote I thought to myself well there wouldn’t be any heroes or someone to look upon to. Without courage we wouldn’t have anything interesting to talk. As I read the word courage I thought of people who should really be recognize for what they did. A good example would be the Congressional of Honor recipients. Not only did they risk their lives to help others but they acted without thinking about it twice. To me their considered a role model because they didn’t expect a reward for the acts they did. These people went beyond what their job is and have the highest honor which is the Medal of Honor.

For me the Medal of Honor is the highest award for an American. By winning the medal you earn others people’s respect. They know you did your job and must have worked really hard to be where you are at right now. These soldiers now become heroes to others. There are not many of us who think of others first instead of themselves. Once a soldier is about to get the medal, even the own president has to salute them because this means their higher than them. Getting a salute from a president must mean a lot and even more since you’re the person who gets it.

I won’t be easy earning the medal since you really have to act with courage no matter what. The soldiers that earn it risk their lives to save others. When it comes being in war is even more hard since you could either get killed or see another person getting killed. Many would just figure out a way to stay safe and save themselves. But to them it was like helping their own family. Having the medal means you didn’t thought of the dangers you would face but just acted without thinking of it. A lot of us think before we make a comment or do something. We either think if it’s going to be polite to say it or if it’s right or wrong doing it. For them it was like the easiest thing in the world and thanks to them we have those soldiers still alive.

“Sometimes I think it was easier winning the Congressional Medal of Honor than it is to wear it.” This quote comes from the very own soldiers who have won it. They weren’t expecting a reward for their actions. It’s like getting a surprise present when it’s not even your birthday. Wearing it can be a lot of responsibility and in a way wouldn’t let you be yourself. When you go out to places and people see you with the medal, they would think you’re a responsible person and wouldn’t do any mistakes. Nobody is perfect but just do right decisions.

When you see a person with the medal around their necks, you should consider them as your role model. These people have with them the highest award anyone can get. They had the courage to face of situations that were difficult. For those other soldiers must have been like their guardian angels. They helped others even if they were wounded and could barely walk. Having the medal should be people who deserve all your respect and should learn a lesson from them.

Giving Thanks

Dear Sergeant Peter C. Lemon,
You are one of those men that didn't gave up and helped other soldiers first and then thought of yourself. Not many people can have these qualities and still receive a Medal of Honor. I really admire the way you had the courage to fight your enemies even though your three closest friends died during that war. It's good to know we still have heroes like you that helped others without expecting anything in return. Men like you helped America and get talked about. Our history teachers teach us about war and the ones that helped. My wish to you is that people will remember the actions you did and don't forget but keep admiring you. Thank you for not only saving other soldiers life but for not giving up and kept fighting even though you were really injured.

Sincerely, Brenda Huerta

A Medal of Honor Role Model

Peter C. Lemon

Rank and Organization: Sgt. , U.S Army, Company E, 2d Batallion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Div Place and date: Tay Ninh province, Republic of Vietnam, 1 April 1970 Entered Service at : Tawas City, Mich. DOB: 5 June 1950, Toronto, Canada

Citation: Mr. Lemon is one of our most young living recipients that receive a Medal of Honor. When he was 19 years-old he was fighting against his enemies at a provinve in Vietnam. The battle lasted for about three hours. Lemon and his 18-men platoon thought they would get a goodnite sleep but they were wrong. That night about 400 enemy soldiers were in their territory and Lemon and his men fought with them. He was severly injured but he kept going and defend himself from that attack. He would fight with all of his fury and kept winning each group of enemies. By the third time trying to overthrow a group of enemies he was exasted but didn't give up. Wiht the energy he had left from fighting he found a working machine gun and got in it. He attacked them and kept going. Sgt. Lemon was very optimistic by going on with the battle even though he saw three of his friends die and helping a wounded slodier get help. Once he was getting help he never stopped thinking about his peers and ordered to get them to a hospital first instead of him. If this wish wasn't done Lemon woudln't let himself be evacuated either. When his war was over he returned to his homwtown in Michigan. He would live a better life and try to forget the bad moments he went through. When he was awarded the Medal of Honor, he felt like he didn't deserve it. He said that all the 18 soldiers that died in that war should have won that medal instead of him. But Lemon accepted the medal and hwe was actually the first Canadian man to get the Medal of Honor. He was with the same thought throughout the years. He said he didn't wear the medal because only three soldiers really deserved the medal which were his closest friends that died in the war.

I want to thank you Sgt. Lemon because there's only a few soldier men like you that think of other people first instead of themselves. If it weren't for your help the rest of the wounded soldiers would have probably died instanly or not gotten help at all.

SCRATCH OFF # 10 & 12

It seems impossible to be able to complete 15 goals doesn’t it? Luckily time passes by without even noticing it. October just finished and I have now completed two more goals!

GETTING TO CLASSES ON TIME

I was confused at the beginning of the year just like everyone else and couldn’t find my classes or walked in circles and at the end the class was around the corner. Now that I’m a sophomore I have classes on “the other side” too. Going from class to class wasn’t easy for me since I had to come from far away and sometimes all the way from the forth floor! Teachers always complain that “That’s not a good excuse miss” but it was hard at the beginning but then I found shortcuts. :)

PASS A GEOMETRY TEST

Ever since I could remember Math is one subject that I’ve always passed and seems easy for me. I guess is just the fact that I like working with numbers and similar problems like that. But passing this geometry test was kind of hard since I had to memorize some formulas of shapes but I did pass the test. Now I just hope not to fall behind.