First I want to note the following IowaGenWeb special project which has added even more records and transcriptions recently and is an excellent source of information on the Civil War: _http://iagenweb.org/civilwar/_ (http://iagenweb.org/civilwar/) Also our own Civil War Page for Decatur County: _www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu/civilwar.html_ (http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu/civilwar.html) And the Military Page for Decatur County which has lists from Old Soldiers' Days Celebrations: _www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu/military.html_ (http://www.rootsweb.com/~iadecatu/military.html) Most of you probably know that Friday is Veterans' Day. I want to give my own personal thanks to our veterans and the families of veterans and those currently fighting in Iraq and especially the families of those who have given their lives recently and in the past. There was an article in our last weekends' local news magazine on Leavenworth National Cemetery. For someone who loves cemeteries like I do the photos were beautiful. There was a poem included and I'd like to quote it here in honor of our veterans who gave their lives.: The Little Green Tents The little green tents where the soldiers sleep, and the sunbeams play and the women weep, are covered with flowers today; and between the tents walk the weary few, who were young and stalwart in 'sixty-two, when they went to the war away. The little green tents are built of sod, and they are not long, and they are not broad, but the soldiers have lots of room; and the sod is part of the land they saved, when the flag of the enemy darkly waved, the symbol of dole and doom, The little green tent is a thing divine; The little green tent is a country's shrine, where patriots kneel and pray; and the brave men left, so old, so few, were young and stalwart in 'sixty-two, when they went to the war away! -By Walt Mason, a newspaperman and poet from Emporia, Kan., 1916 Stacey Dietiker momdit@aol.com Decatur Co IA List Administrator Decatur Co IA Website Coordinator