A Veteran's Day Tribute

Today is Veteran's Day and I would like to take a moment to thank all the veterans out there who have made me proud to be an American. This poem is for them. When you have finished reading, please leave a comment below. If you are a veteran, please leave your name, branch and years of service. You are what makes our country so great, stand up and be honored. Also for those countries that observe Rememberance Day, our friends around the world, I would like to honor you too. Stand up and be counted.

Would He Do It Again?
by Lisa McCourt Hollar

He stood there on the corner,
A sign held in his hand,
And people walking by him,
But no one gave a damn,

To words that he had scrawled,
Asking for their aid,
Nor did they care to know,
The price that he had paid.

In service to his country,
Our freedom he'd defend,
Standing up for what is right,
Even to the end.

He'd seen a lot of dying,
Been shot at more than once,
But nothing had prepared him
For his ride home on the bus.

A lot of angry glances
And words were cast his way,
Someone called him killer,
Others spit on him that day.

Was this what he'd defended?
Was this worth the life he'd lost?
Would he even have done it,
If he'd known this was the cost?

That was many years ago,
But the burden still remains
As people walking past him
Continue to call him names.

Old man he heard one say,
Cripple another said,
And for the briefest moment,
He wished that he were dead.

But then a little girl,
With her grandpa by her side,
Gave his shirt a gentle tug,
She wouldn't be denied,

The chance she had to thank him,
For the service that he gave,
Defending our nations freedom,
And she thought him very brave.

She told him he was a hero
And his heart was very pleased,
As the burden that he'd carried
All these years was finally eased.

Liberty comes with a price
And it never has been free,
Brave soldiers gave their lives
For more than you and me.

War is never pretty,
It sure as hell's not fun,
But for the cause of freedom
It sometimes must be done.

So when you see a veteran,
Instead of walking by,
Stop and tell him thank you
For keeping freedom alive.