To The Editor:
My name is Frank Hildreth, from Zephyrhills, FL. Recently my wife and I were visiting Dillon. I walked through a cemetery, reading epitaphs, when I stopped at the stone of Elmer Clyde Causey, a twenty-two-year-old victim of WWII. Elmer died in France fighting for my freedom. I, too, was in the service. I’ve been overseas with many other guys. In spite of that, there were many times I felt alone. Elmer must have had that feeling, along with horrible frightening thoughts.
Life is like a passing shadow. All I can think of is how fast it went by for Elmer and so many others. He is my hero! I have written a poem about Elmer. I wonder if perhaps you could print it in your local paper, to tell people he is not forgotten.
Heaven Bound
As I walked through
This cemetery of old
I felt a slight chill
Yet, it wasn’t all that cold
My eyes touched a stone
My throat felt dry
I read that epitaph
And asked myself why
I celebrate sad emotions
That brought tears to my eyes
Elmer Causey died a hero
With a lot of other guys
At a young twenty-two
He stood proud in his death
On the coast of France
He gave God his last breath
In the twinkling of an eye
When it was all said and done
With salvation in his hand
His race was finally run
Elmer will soon walk
Those sacred streets of gold
See the face of Jesus
All the saints of old, praise God
Frank Hildreth
5251 Mohawk Street
Zephyrhills, FL 33542\
