The Veteran

"The Veteran"Today I was reminded of what time could not eraseAs I walked through the halls I felt a sadness in this placeA building filled with history our books will never seeTheir stories are the pages locked inside their memoryIt's one of many you will find that's scattered everywhereThese people come here hoping to receive the proper careI saw a few in wheelchairs and so many used a caneSome walked just fine but in their eyes was where I saw the painThese Heroes have been marked for life all here surrounding meThey've shed their blood while other's died to keep this country freeI still remember stories of a war my dad went throughEach one was told with Army Pride he called it "World War II"And later "The Korean War" forced troops to say good-byeBecause Korea's North and South could not see eye to eyeThen "Vietnam" decided too raise up it's ugly headLike all the wars, the damage left so many people deadWhen troops came home they had to face another kind of warA "War of Words" that added wounds as if they needed moreThe latest war was televised for all the world to seeCalled "Operation Desert Storm" performed so perfectlyThis war had ended quickly but our troops cannot forgetThey're constantly reminded that the "Storm's" not over yetThese wars do not discriminate religion, sex or raceThe bombs, grenades and poison gas take lives we can't replaceAnd weapons don't have boundaries they claim what's in their wayWhat will it take to stop these wars right here, right now, todayOur troops are thought so highly of when they are called to warBut when it's over they are not remembered anymoreAnd what about the one's still lost are they forgotten too?Is anyone still searching for the one's who fought for youThese men and women suffer more than you will ever knowWhen war is over they still fight a war that doesn't showEach one deserves the very best for what they have been throughYour proof is VA Hospitals I'm sure there's one near youWe all want Peace and Harmony but something's always wrongThese buildings might become extinct if we could get alongMy husband fought the last two wars, which stole the heart he hadHe wears that look of war abuse just like my precious dadI don't have all the answers but I know one thing for sureThe anger has to leave before a healing can occurAmerica is free because of Veterans todayAnd more of them still yet to come will also have to paySo when you exercise your rights remember "Why" you canYou see, I can't forget because I am "The Veteran"© By: Freda H. Babinski 9-2-97Tndeer1@aol.com http://www.geocities.com/fredaheavensent/(Dedication)I dedicate this to every Veteran, past, present and future. "God Bless You"