(Flag Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veteran’s Day)

The word is out. The word is out.
Heed the bugle’s call.
Listen up! Listen up!
Hail our veterans all.
Now hear this! Now hear this!
Hark to the bosun’s pipe.
Today is a special day, so let’s not have your gripe.
“Oh, yeah, so what; we hear that stuff each and every year.”
Forget ‘us’ today, and think of vets - that is why we’re here.

Is it too much to ask to devote just a single day
to praise and honor vets, and to them gratitude display?
Recall, not long ago, that awful 9-11-01,
When our civilian heroes pulled out victims one by one.
Many firemen and policemen, of equal discipline
Suffered and died out there, fighting the enemy within.

They’ve all done more than enough for you and for me;
Some say that they gave their lives to keep the U.S. free.
But no one just gives his life, though surely risk it he will,
To assault a mined barbed-wire beach or charge up a hill,
Or dash into the flaming rubble to help people get out.
Heroism abroad and at home; that’s what it’s all about.
And doing this, many died, but we hope ‘twas not in vain.
As we have done, America’s children will do it o’er again.

I am always tearfully proud every time I see
our uniformed military youth appearing on TV;
medics, police, and firemen, too - where all races do unite.
Salute these people, every one, because it’s only right.

Disabled veterans, now, at hospitals everywhere
end their years in neglect under VA-sponsored care.
They die out there, mostly alone, in some secluded ward,
and get “Taps” from a recording as ultimate reward.
The last things that are issued to our veteran GI
is a small headstone, a flag, and a salute when they die.

We don’t dwell on war and casualties
when in youthful prime;
that’s why we have special days for vets from time to time.
With music, parades, and speeches
about those who have served;
to pay respect and give thanks for a nation they preserved.
To have fun and sing songs and to vets gratitude convey,
read poetry and salute our flag - we’re doing this today.

Military or not - We, the People praise every vet.
Whether deceased or living - we must never them forget.
POWs and MIAs, too, we mindfully recall
their devotion surely matches with that of those who fall.
For the battles that they fought,
and the service that they gave,
we raise a toast to all veterans
from the Home of the Brave!

An now we add a sad PS, in wake of Katrina’s wrath
to praise those who helped others within that deadly path.
The media showed us looters and people in despair,
but we know that many heroes
are still helping folks out there.

There’s plenty for Americans to do -
just stop and look around:
from simple good deeds to war on terror -
why, opportunities abound!
So say it here, and say it now, we honor you, every one,
Whether you just helped your neighbor or
packed an Army gun.

This poem ends, with many sighs of relief.
These heroes fell to allow us that instead of sobs of grief.
For it comes to that, you see, veterans oft’ vilified
by hate-filled misfits;
perhaps the wrong ones may have died.


❀