Classic Poem

The dawn is cold dark; the mist spreads out and tops the hill —
The alert sounds loud to the sleeping boys, who rise in the morning's chill.
To charge through " No Man's Land " — their Captain leading with a will
At Chateau Thierry.

But when half way across that terrible expanse, he lays
His life upon the altar of dear victory's dire ways,
His Lieutenant leads onward, but the dying leader stays
At Chateau Thierry.

And when a few yards further, overtaken by sad fate,
Our fine Lieutenant falls, with his last breath he calls his mate,
Who takes command and leads in carnage which does not abate
At Chateau Thierry.

A strippling now, but one with love of country burning high,
Runs up, and leads his comrades on, to reach the Marne and die;
The Sergeant-next, then leads in turn, but, with the dead to lie
At Chateau Thierry.

In days to come, when peace prevails, and veterans gather round,
They'll proudly tell of glorious deeds, how a soldier brave was found
Among the ranks, to lead through fearful odds to win Boche ground
At Chateau Thierry.

They marched to win 'mid bursting bombs, hot liquid fire, and gas,
With rumbling, tumbling tanks, machine-guns charged! to die alas!
But dying fighting, shouting as they fought: " They shall not pass! "
At Chateau Thierry.

So these brave sons, though young, so true, — the flower of manhood — lie
On battlefields, the sacrifice, nor asked the " reason why " :
Could their dead lips but speak again, 'twould be to proudly cry:
" Remember Thierry! "

Chorus:
The U. S. A. My America!
Thy braves have led the bravest of the brave
To victory! Democracy to save!
At Chateau Thierry!