Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
8:41 am Monday, May 28, 2001

To My Father:

By Staff
Barely a man, he went off to war,
Finishing his first tour, enlisting for more.
He saw people suffering, living in hell,
Keeping these secrets, never to tell.
He was trained to fight, learned to kill,
Surviving on instinct and determined will.
Finally at home, what would he see,
Not the great country, the land of the free.
But people with stones, contempt and shame,
Leaving these brave soldiers to carry the blame.
Many years later and a long time ago,
He still remembers the fire, the amber glow.
Passing through life and keeping it all in,
Trying to forget what happened, where he had been.
This young boy, now a man,
Once fought for his country, for this great land.
But his worst fight has yet to begin,
To let go of the sorrow, the pain from within.
He lives without the Lord, our Father above,
For he believes he is unworthy of His wonderful love.
This young boy, now a man,
Is ashamed of his deeds, in the name of this land.
But how can I get him to finally see,
That the war will be over, in heaven with Thee.
I love you, dad.
Denise

Also on Franklin County Times
Successful paving plan draws Florence’s interest
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Pondering whether Florenceshouldestablish its own paving department, officials only had to look about 20 miles south to see the benefit...
Mills named principal at West Elementary
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Gayla Mills is beginning her 31st year in education and her first as West Elementary’s principal. Mills taught third grade when that gr...
Disciplinary point system gets ‘amped up’
Main, News, Russellville
By Ella Seaton For the FCT 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — As Alabama students head back to school, there is a new incentive for staying out of trouble. This school year, school disciplinary pro...
Wright is new RES principal
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Channing Wright, former Russellville Elementary assistant principal, will begin the new school year in a new role, that of principal. N...
Motorists reminded of bus safety rules
Franklin County, News
By Ella Seaton For the FCT 
August 5, 2026
As school buses begin returning to roads across northwest Alabama this week, transportation officials remind parents, students and motorists the impor...
Gym artifact finds new home at PCHS
High School Sports, News, Phil Campbell, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
August 5, 2026
PHIL CAMPBELL — Fifteen years after the April 27, 2011, tornado destroyed Phil Campbell High School, a preserved piece of the old gym has found a perm...
Vina man may have his bond revoked after messaging a minor
Franklin County, News, Z - News Main
By Kevin Taylor For FCT 
July 30, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — A Vina man, who was arrested and charged in 2024 with electronic solicitation of a child, could have his bond revoked after allegedly t...
City OKs ‘Women of True Grit’ agreement
A: Main, Franklin County, News, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
July 29, 2026
REDBAY–The city council has approved a $12,000 agreement with Hand in Hand Entertainment and Promotions for a one-year “Edie Hand: Women of True Grit”...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *