VETERANS PAID THE PRICE FOR FREEDOM

 I watched as the flag passed by the crowd,

It fluttered in the breeze so proudly.

I saw an Old Veteran salute it smartly,

and then he stood at ease with his head bowed.

I looked at him in his uniform so worn,

And thought of him as once young, tall, and proud

I wondered aloud, what made him so torn?

With those tears in his eyes,

He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought, How many men like him

Had he seen fallen through the years?

How many did he see die on some foreign soil?

How many memories brought such tears?

How many trucks did he see take a hit?

How many planes did he see shot down?

How many ships did he see go to a watery grave?

How many foxholes did he turn into a soldiers' graves?

I wondered how many times did he hear the sounds of Taps?

Did he get a sudden chill when he heard the bugler play?

How many times had Taps meant “Amen”

With a flag draped coffin of a brother or a friend?

I thought of all of the young proud men,

Of the mothers, wives and daughters,

Of the fathers, husbands and sons

Who had to continue to live with interrupted lives.

I thought about the graveyard at the bottom of the sea,

I thought about the tomb of the unknowns at Arlington,

I thought about the ones in unmarked graves over there,

I thought about the ones who will never return home.

With these thoughts on my mind

I no longer marched to enhance my own pride

I now march for him, the Veteran once proud

I march for his buddies, who are still on his mind.

I march for all veterans who have gone before,

I march for all veterans who are sickbed bound,

I march for all veterans who are forlorn,

And I march for all veterans yet unborn.

No, Freedom is not free!!

It was paid for by this old veteran,

It was paid for by the blood of his buddies,

Freedom is not free, it was paid for by a dear price,

So Lord God, please have mercy on their souls.

Written by CW3 Sid Shown, 

U. S. Army (Retired), Past Commander, Dept. of Tn, Military Order of the Purple Heart.