" TILL WE MEET AGAIN"

AS TIME GOES BY- OUR NUMBERS GROW FEW.
OF THAT FACT, THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO.
BUT REMEMBER, WE WILL, THE TIMES OF THE PAST.
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG. THE MEMORIES WILL LAST.

THE EXPLOITS WE DID, THE HISTORY WE MADE.
FOR OUR PLACE IN HISTORY, SOME DEARLY PAID.
WE GAVE WHEN WE HAD TO- THERE WAS NO CHOICE.
OUR PRESENCE WAS NOTED- SO WAS OUR VOICE,
FOR PROUDLY WE GATHERED, TO DO WHAT WE COULD
TO REVERSE THE OPPRESSION, THAT OUR ENEMIES WOULD.

THE "OLD SOUTH DAKOTA" AND HER MOTLEY CREW.
THEY SOON LEARNED WHAT THEY HAD TO DO.
SO OFF THEY ALL WENT, THIS MELANGE OF BOYS,
OFF TO DO BATTLE AND ALL OF IT'S NOISE.
OFF TO MAKE HISTORY, HOWEVER THEY MIGHT.
TO SEE THEM AT SEA WAS A GLORIOUS SIGHT.

A "NO MANS LAND " OF A SHIP SHE WAS, 
WHEN THE JAPS FOUND OUT, THERE WAS QUITE A BUZZ.
HER NAME STRUCK A FEAR; SHE NEVER "STRUCK OUT"!
HER PROWESS WAS MIGHTY, OF THAT THERE'S NO DOUBT.
HER CREW WAS "TOPS", AS ALL WILL ATTEST.
HISTORY WILL TELL YOU, THEY WERE THE BEST!

TIMES PASS, AND IT BECOMES A MEMORY.
THE " OLD SOUTH DAKOTA" SAILS ON HEAVENLY SEAS
A LOT OF HER CREW ARE BACK ON THE SHIP,
ON THEIR HEAVENLY CRUISE- AT A NOMINAL CLIP.
NO WAR TO FIGHT, AS IN TIMES OF THE PAST.
JUST A ROUTINE MANEUVER, FOREVER TO LAST

WE'LL ALL BE ABOARD, YOU KNOW HOW IT GOES-
TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE, AND YET, WE SUPPOSE
THAT ONE DAY IN TIME- WE'LL ALL BE TOGETHER.
THE CREWS ON BOARD, NO PROBLEM WITH WEATHER
AND SO DEAR FRIENDS, THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR,
THE REINS ARE TURNED OVER TO OUR FAMILIES DEAR.

THEY'LL SEE THAT OUR EFFORTS, REMAIN IN THE BOOKS,
THE "MEMORIAL SITE" WILL MAINTAIN IT'S LOOKS.
OUR FAMILIES ARE RUNNING THINGS NOW, IT'S A PLEASURE,
A GOOD JOB THEY'RE DOING AND THAT IS A TREASURE.


WE CAN GO TO OUR REST, KNOWING OUR SHIP WILL GO ON.
AND WHAT WE DID WILL NEVER BE GONE.
SO, DEAR FRIENDS, OUR NUMBERS GROW FEW,
NO WORRIES OR CARES, IT'S IN GOOD HANDS, WE KNEW.
WE'LL SAY ADIOS, AND WISH THEM GOOD LUCK,
OUR HISTORY IS IN THEIR HANDS, AND THEY'VE GOT THE PLUCK

TO SEE IT'S NOT LOST, OF THAT WE'RE AWARE-
THEY'RE GREAT TO BE "2ND" AND THEY REALLY CARE!
THE "2ND GENERATION" WILL HOLD OUR BANNERS HIGH,
THE MEMORY-THE HISTORY-THE FLAGS THEY WILL FLY!

WE'LL WATCH, FROM A DISTANCE, TO SEE EVERMORE,
THEIR PROGRESS WE'LL SEE, FROM A FAR DISTANT SHORE.
SO, GOODBYE, MY DEAR FRIENDS, IT SURE HAS BEEN GREAT
TO KNOW ALL OF YOU, I GUESS IT WAS FATE.
I'LL SEE YOU IN HEAVEN, WHERE WE SURELY WILL GO.
WE'LL BE THERE TOGETHER AND WATCH THEM BELOW.

AND NOW AT OUR PARTING, I'LL JUST HAVE TO SAY,
IT SURE HAS BEEN FUN AND WE'VE HAD A GREAT DAY.
NOW LET US ALL STAND AND TOGETHER WE'LL SAY:
"ANCHORS AWEIGH, MY BOYS, ANCHORS AWEIGH,
FAREWELL TO COLLEGE JOYS, WE SAIL AT BREAK OF DAAAY.
TO OUR LAST NIGHT ON SHORE, DRINK TO THE FOAM,
AND TILL WE MEET ONCE MORE,
HERES WISHING YOU A HAPPY VOYAGE HOME"!!!!

I SALUTE YOU AND OUR COUNTRY AND OUR FLAG!!!!!!!!!!

 © JULY, 2002 BY MARIE S. LANCASTER

Page February8,2003
by William J, Moore
used with permission

Bill Moore's Writing