Disclamer- I don't own them... but could I get NCIS as a birthday present on Tuesday (the 22 of March)? For those people that reviewed my other Atlantis story and wanted another chapter, I'm working on it
"Would all students please report to the gymnasium for this afternoon's assembly," the random person at the P.A. system said.
"So, tell me again why we have to do this," thirteen year old Madison Cortez complained to her best friend Elizabeth Weir, as they stood behind the curtain on the stage in the gymnasium five minutes later.
"Because our teachers thought that we would be the best two people to read the poem for the assembly," Liz told her best friend.
"This is why I don't like being able to talk in front of lots of people. Lets get this over with, I'm going first right?"
"Yep."
"Okay, let's get this over with," Madison said as they walked out to the podium on the stage. "This poem is called 'Please Remember Me, and it was written by John DiRusso, a World War II veteran, and it goes like this, remember me America, for I was once your son, I fought and died at Valley Forge with General Washington; I was there at Gettysburg on that tragic, tragic day. When brother fought against brother - the blue against the grey, Madison started. "I rode with Teddy Roosevelt on the charge up San Juan Hill. Some came back to fight again, but I just lie there still. I went to France with A.E.F. to bring the peace to you; I was twenty-one and full of fun - I never saw twenty-two. I am here at Pearl Harbor," she stopped for a moment to wipe away a tear, "since that December seventh day of infamy. Lying silently with my shipmates on the U.S.S. Arizona at the bottom of the sea. D-Day June 6th 1944, we hit the beaches of Normandy, and we fought uphill every inch of the way. We routed the Germans and hurled them back, but what a terrible price we had to pay. I served on an U.S. submarine, the bravest of the brave," Madison finished as Liz took over.
"Until a German depth charge gave us a watery grave," Elizabeth Weir-Sheppard, leader of Atlantis, and wife of Major John Sheppard repeated the poem that she had learned as a thirteen year old to the people of Atlantis on Memorial Day. "I bombed the Ploesti oil fields they blew with one big roar, but in the attack we were hit with flack- I'll never bomb anymore." She said as she remembered her friend Madison, who had died on her eighteenth birthday, she had been hit by a drunk driver on her way home from soccer practice. "In Korea I heard the C.O. shout 'We'll make it- I am sure we will.' I lost my life to try and take a spot called Pork Chop Hill. Vietnam! Vietnam! When will we ever learn? I am on of sixty thousand that never will return. I left my town, my wife, my kids, my home so cozy and warm; I was killed in a scud attack in a war called- Desert Storm! And so in my eternity my thoughts are all for thee, I'll never forget my America… I pray she remembers me," Elizabeth finished as a single tear fell to her cheek, for her friend. Her friend with whom she only ever promised one thing, that no matter what happened she would look out for her little sister. And Madison's little sister, Capt. Emily Cortez was in the gateroom on Atlantis, also remembering her sister. After Madison's death, Emily and Liz had become very good friends, and Liz had made sure to keep her promise and Emily was one of the first people on the expedition roster four years ago.
The End