Some very special poems

“TO THE R.C.M.P.”

This is a very “Special Day”
We celebrate you see,
To honor our men in the Red Coats,
The loyal R.C.M.P.

They’ve guarded us well through the century
Kept our true North, strong and free,
To commemorate in their honor,
There stands our Library.

But let us not forget today,
There are “Old Friends”, gathered here,
Who represented law for us,
In those past yester-years.

So from our town of ‘Beaverlodge’,
We say; “Welcome, one and all”
Once more to our men of the R.C.M.P.
May they ever stand proud and tall.

Pearl Cook

This lovely poem by Pearl Cook is to commemorate the death of Captain Varns in a plane crash while he was stationed at CFS Beaverlodge when it was a USAF base. For more information on the crash visit the Pinetree Line website. Look under pinetreeline locations, Beaverlodge, history, 1958 the crash of a USAF Beaver

IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN VARNS

Away on those lonely mountains,
That rise so blue and tall,
A Captain from the Air Base,
Answered his Master’s call.

Out on a Mission of Mercy,
He and his comrades flew,
Looking afar for some hunter,
Who seemed to be overdue.

Finally the camp was sighted,
And downward a message fell,
Wave, if you are in trouble,
We’re here to know all is well.

And then as the plane was circling,
Ready to go on its way,
It seemed that God had willed it,
For it crashed and there it lay.

There are those that are left in sorrow,
And a priest who knelt to pray,
At the side of the brave young Captain,
As out on those hills he lay,

We ask that your heart be not sorrowed,
For God moves in mysterious way,
May these words give you comfort and courage
To go on, is the prayer that I pray.

Pearl Cook

This poem was written by Sgt. Ray Raw to commemorate the closure of CFS Beaverlodge. Drop by the Pinetree Line website to learn more about the fate of the base.

REQUIEM FOR A RADAR SITE

Silent vigil of the North
Guardian of the Peace
For the men and women of Beaverlodge
Its Operations Cease.

We came, we saw, we lived a life
That others seldom follow
With happiness, sorrow and sometimes strife
We do what we are called to.

We have persevered throughout the years
We have had our laughter, we have had our tears
And as years pass by, will our thoughts grow dim
Of remembering her or remembering him.

Remember back when you first set eyes
Upon this mountain and the clear blue skies
Those winds that never cease to blow
Those stark white domes against the glow
Of a setting sun in a western sky
Its colours painted on the clouds passing by.

There’s the bark of a ground squirrel, the shrill cry of a hawk
Its almost as if this mountain could talk
Think back to the stories, the parties, the games
The wildlife, the flowers, it won’t be the same
For all things must change with the passing years
And one must accept it without any tears
That good friends come and good friends go
And when this summer turns to snow
A way of life will end right here
For Beaverlodge will disappear
The land will once more look the same as it did before the RADAR came.

Will you remember the times gone by
The quiet rains, the winds whispering sigh
The blowing snow, the autumn leaves, the summer heat, the springtime trees
Our task are done, we must move on
Like fish in a stream its time to spawn
Another friendship, another place and then perhaps a familiar face.
For places come and places go
But don’t forget that in the glow of the setting sun our lives won’t end
Its time to go and start again.

by Sgt Ray Raw.