My Traditions by LCpl Justin B. Norris, USMC
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MY TRADITIONS
by LCpl Justin B. Norris, USMC*
That my ancestors may smile down upon me with pride,
I carry on this age old tradition,
As to war I go.
That one fine day I may dine in their halls,
I have taken up arms
In this struggle that is none my own.
Into the fray I carry tartan and dirk, as once they did long ago,
For my clan and kind shall go with me,
Wherever I may go.
For them I fight with honor and courage,
And should I live or die regardless,
I shall carry on,
For it is them that live in me.
So I go forth into the fight,
And whether the pipers play in sweet victory
Or somber lament,
I shall come home,
And should I go to face God,
I shall forever know,
My heart was pure, my soul strong,
And for eternity in my heart,
Shall the clan ever live on,
Leaving to the next generation,
This age-old tradition,
Asking only of God,
He give them the resolve,
That one day beside my ancestors,
I smile down upon them,
My clan and kin,
In pride.
*CFUSA (Wood sept of Farquharson) member is deployed "somewhere in the sand".
LCpl Norris may be reached here.
He does, indeed, carry a swatch of Farquharson tartan in his L breast uniform pocket
and his dirk at his side