Monongah, West Virginia on December 6, 1907. A total of 362 men and boys lost their lives leaving 250 widows and over 1000 children without support.



Sad Day in the Mountains



The search goes on for days too

when a ship is lost at sea.



The hope remains longer at times

for the day "bodies have been recovered"

never comes.



A platoon ambushed in the jungle

position over-run, a MIA, so

we fly flags.



There is a small comfort then

that the rescue effort ended badly.



A nation had not given up hope

however slight til they were found.



So now we mourn

and make vows of "never again",

even as we know the pain will come

again and again.



It is our fate.




By Phil Specht on April 10, 2010