USS Lexington CV16/CVA16/CVS16/CVT16/AVT16 and CV2
USS LEXINGTON CV 16 ASSOCIATION
THE WATERY GRAVE OF THE UNKNOWN SAILOR
No cross marks the grave where now we lie,
What happened is known but to us.
You asked and we gave our lives to protect our land,
From the world's greatest curse
Your ships now proudly ride the sea,
'Tis your tribute to our endeavor'.
We ask no day of the year to mourn us,
We ask you just to remember.
No Flanders Field where poppies blow,
No gleaming crosses row on row,
No unnamed tomb for all to see, and
Pause, and wonder, who we might be.
'Tis the grave of our choice,
Where now we lie.
And view ye mortals passing by,
Steaming busily on changing wave.
Go quietly now, you're o'er our graves
Remember, remember those who rest in watery graves.
by J.T.B.
By presenting the names in the above lists we honor those shipmates who died while on board the USS Lexington or in the case of the Association have died in the intervening years. In the case of many the following poem is offered.