Farewell to the Guard
By Albert Boyer McMullin
(see notes below for more information)
Well, the boys pulled out as the sun came up,
With the moon still a' ridin' high,
And the morning stars both Venus and Mars,
were still peering out of the sky.
A pat on the back, a kiss on the lips,
A handshake and yes, perhaps a tear,
For the boys were packin' and headin' South,
They were leaving us for a year.
Now some had a sweetheart, and others a wife,
And some had a couple o' kids.
But if they were sufferin' inward strife,
They sure kept it under their lids.
And me that never amounted to much,
I just had a feelin' o' joy,
I must confess – Me heart was touched,
When I shook hands with "the boy."
"Well, so long Dad" he said with a grin,
"I sure wish you plenty of luck"
And mounting the tailboard he tumbled in,
The rear of an Army truck.
Perhaps he wondered "What's on Dad's mind?"
Just a standin' there in the crowd.
He may never get wise, nor quite realize
But buddy I felt might proud.
For it's not every man who has such a lad
So filled with courage and pluck,
When it comes to "Goodbye," looks his Dad in the eye,
And wishes him plenty of luck.
Aye, the boys rolled away in the early dawn,
And I reckon they're gone for a year.
Tho deep down inside, "Me heart was sore torn"
Buddy – I just had to cheer.
For it's not every man who has such a lad
Nor a land or a flag like mine.
May the "All Seeing Eye" look down from the sky,
And guard them throughout all time.
(Battery E, 213 Coast Artillery, Pennsylvania National Guard, consisted primarily of young men from the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area. In 1940, this unit was activated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. On Monday morning, 23 September 1940, Battery E was ordered to report to their armory to be transported to Camp Stewart, Georgia. The author of this poem, Albert Boyer McMullin, was my paternal grandfather. He wrote it shortly after the convoy departed. The "boy" was the author's son. His name was Albert Laurence McMullin and he was also my father. The "boy" survived the war and went on to serve 26 years in the United States Army.)
By Albert Boyer McMullin
(see notes below for more information)
Well, the boys pulled out as the sun came up,
With the moon still a' ridin' high,
And the morning stars both Venus and Mars,
were still peering out of the sky.
A pat on the back, a kiss on the lips,
A handshake and yes, perhaps a tear,
For the boys were packin' and headin' South,
They were leaving us for a year.
Now some had a sweetheart, and others a wife,
And some had a couple o' kids.
But if they were sufferin' inward strife,
They sure kept it under their lids.
And me that never amounted to much,
I just had a feelin' o' joy,
I must confess – Me heart was touched,
When I shook hands with "the boy."
"Well, so long Dad" he said with a grin,
"I sure wish you plenty of luck"
And mounting the tailboard he tumbled in,
The rear of an Army truck.
Perhaps he wondered "What's on Dad's mind?"
Just a standin' there in the crowd.
He may never get wise, nor quite realize
But buddy I felt might proud.
For it's not every man who has such a lad
So filled with courage and pluck,
When it comes to "Goodbye," looks his Dad in the eye,
And wishes him plenty of luck.
Aye, the boys rolled away in the early dawn,
And I reckon they're gone for a year.
Tho deep down inside, "Me heart was sore torn"
Buddy – I just had to cheer.
For it's not every man who has such a lad
Nor a land or a flag like mine.
May the "All Seeing Eye" look down from the sky,
And guard them throughout all time.
(Battery E, 213 Coast Artillery, Pennsylvania National Guard, consisted primarily of young men from the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area. In 1940, this unit was activated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. On Monday morning, 23 September 1940, Battery E was ordered to report to their armory to be transported to Camp Stewart, Georgia. The author of this poem, Albert Boyer McMullin, was my paternal grandfather. He wrote it shortly after the convoy departed. The "boy" was the author's son. His name was Albert Laurence McMullin and he was also my father. The "boy" survived the war and went on to serve 26 years in the United States Army.)
Farewell to the Guard
By Albert Boyer McMullin
(see notes below for more information)
Well, the boys pulled out as the sun came up,
With the moon still a' ridin' high,
And the morning stars both Venus and Mars,
were still peering out of the sky.
A pat on the back, a kiss on the lips,
A handshake and yes, perhaps a tear,
For the boys were packin' and headin' South,
They were leaving us for a year.
Now some had a sweetheart, and others a wife,
And some had a couple o' kids.
But if they were sufferin' inward strife,
They sure kept it under their lids.
And me that never amounted to much,
I just had a feelin' o' joy,
I must confess – Me heart was touched,
When I shook hands with "the boy."
"Well, so long Dad" he said with a grin,
"I sure wish you plenty of luck"
And mounting the tailboard he tumbled in,
The rear of an Army truck.
Perhaps he wondered "What's on Dad's mind?"
Just a standin' there in the crowd.
He may never get wise, nor quite realize
But buddy I felt might proud.
For it's not every man who has such a lad
So filled with courage and pluck,
When it comes to "Goodbye," looks his Dad in the eye,
And wishes him plenty of luck.
Aye, the boys rolled away in the early dawn,
And I reckon they're gone for a year.
Tho deep down inside, "Me heart was sore torn"
Buddy – I just had to cheer.
For it's not every man who has such a lad
Nor a land or a flag like mine.
May the "All Seeing Eye" look down from the sky,
And guard them throughout all time.
(Battery E, 213 Coast Artillery, Pennsylvania National Guard, consisted primarily of young men from the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area. In 1940, this unit was activated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. On Monday morning, 23 September 1940, Battery E was ordered to report to their armory to be transported to Camp Stewart, Georgia. The author of this poem, Albert Boyer McMullin, was my paternal grandfather. He wrote it shortly after the convoy departed. The "boy" was the author's son. His name was Albert Laurence McMullin and he was also my father. The "boy" survived the war and went on to serve 26 years in the United States Army.)
By Albert Boyer McMullin
(see notes below for more information)
Well, the boys pulled out as the sun came up,
With the moon still a' ridin' high,
And the morning stars both Venus and Mars,
were still peering out of the sky.
A pat on the back, a kiss on the lips,
A handshake and yes, perhaps a tear,
For the boys were packin' and headin' South,
They were leaving us for a year.
Now some had a sweetheart, and others a wife,
And some had a couple o' kids.
But if they were sufferin' inward strife,
They sure kept it under their lids.
And me that never amounted to much,
I just had a feelin' o' joy,
I must confess – Me heart was touched,
When I shook hands with "the boy."
"Well, so long Dad" he said with a grin,
"I sure wish you plenty of luck"
And mounting the tailboard he tumbled in,
The rear of an Army truck.
Perhaps he wondered "What's on Dad's mind?"
Just a standin' there in the crowd.
He may never get wise, nor quite realize
But buddy I felt might proud.
For it's not every man who has such a lad
So filled with courage and pluck,
When it comes to "Goodbye," looks his Dad in the eye,
And wishes him plenty of luck.
Aye, the boys rolled away in the early dawn,
And I reckon they're gone for a year.
Tho deep down inside, "Me heart was sore torn"
Buddy – I just had to cheer.
For it's not every man who has such a lad
Nor a land or a flag like mine.
May the "All Seeing Eye" look down from the sky,
And guard them throughout all time.
(Battery E, 213 Coast Artillery, Pennsylvania National Guard, consisted primarily of young men from the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area. In 1940, this unit was activated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. On Monday morning, 23 September 1940, Battery E was ordered to report to their armory to be transported to Camp Stewart, Georgia. The author of this poem, Albert Boyer McMullin, was my paternal grandfather. He wrote it shortly after the convoy departed. The "boy" was the author's son. His name was Albert Laurence McMullin and he was also my father. The "boy" survived the war and went on to serve 26 years in the United States Army.)
Inscription
"Carpenter, Writer, Historian, Loreist, Philosopher"
"Here lieth Albert B. McMullin, some said that he was sour and sullen, while others claimed he was too gay, now it doesn't matter either way. Pause smile pass on, but shed no tear. It's just old Al that's lying here."
