"The Vacant Chair"
by Washburn and Root performed by Kathy Mattea
As we prepare for our sixth Thanksgiving while we have soldiers and marines fighting two wars, half a world away, let us pause, and reflect a moment.
If you know a family with a vacant chair at tomorrow's feast, give them a call. Tell them you remember too, tell them you love them.
We shall meet but we shall miss him,
There will be one vacant chair;
We shall linger to caress him
While we breath our evening prayer.
When one year ago we gathered,
Joy was in his mild blue eye,
Now the golden cord is severed,
And our hopes in ruin lie.Chorus
We shall meet but we shall miss him,
There will be one vacant chair;
We shall linger to caress him
While we breath our evening prayer.At our fireside, sad and lonely,
Often will the bosom swell
At remembrance of the story
How our noble Willie fell;
How he strove to bear our banner
Thro' the thickest of the fight,
And uphold our country's honor
In the strength of manhood's might.Chorus
True they tell us wreaths of glory
Evermore will deck his brow,
But this soothes the anguish only
Sweeping o'er our heartstrings now,
Sleep today O' early fallen
In they green and narrow bed,
Dirges from the pine and cypress
Mingle with the tears we shed.Chorus
I will be remembering my friend the Sergeant Major Larry, currently serving in Afghanistan. His wife, and their two lovely girls are honored guests at my table. Keep your head down Larry, come home to us.
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