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John McCain wants to change DC, Barack Obama wants to change America.
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Wednesday, 21 February 2007
I say to you, though I am only one....
Contributed by Bill Faith

Palmetto Silver is an active participant in the Gathering of Eagles forum, where Rurik saw one of her poems and introduced us. I'm grateful to both of them.

To a Viet Nam Vet
Palmetto Silver

You had no choice - the big man's decree
Had changed your life, you were not free
To live and work in a quiet place
You were now a dog tag, a nameless face.

They trained you hard, they trained you well.
You were prepared for a living hell
and to that hell you went and fought.
You did your job, no laurels sought.

You did your time with all your might
Courage, faith, your creed your only light.
Searing images on your mind...
No respite from them could you find.

And then to our great country's shame
We turned and spat, dishonored your name.
No cheering shouts, no songs of praise...
We looked at you with denigrating gaze.

But you carried on and stood the test
You lived your lives of quiet rest
Still deep within the pain ceased not
It seemed your countrymen simply forgot.

This will not suffice for all the years
You thought of your comrades with heavy tears
It will not ease the buried pain
Of a country turned in cold disdain.

But know this one thing, Warrior Man
I'd be proud to shake your hand
To thank you for your service true
You answered the call of the red, white and blue.

Our country should be shamed still yet
To think we ignored even just one vet
You gave your all, the best there was...
And then came home to no applause.

I say to you, though I am only one....
Thank you for a job well done.

Contributed by Bill Faith on February 21, 2007 at 01:32 AM in Caring about our troops, Palmetto Silver, Poetry, Viet Nam | Permalink

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