A name is called in honor
A soldier stands erect
The stately walk gives pause for
a moment to reflect.
He looks back on a lifetime
of missions won and lost
And wonders if the glory here
is worth the total cost.
Looking to the nightmares
and harsh reality
and all the while defending
a life he'd never see.
Living with the demons
and ghosts from lifetimes gone
and mourning what he couldn't change
and what he had done wrong.
And as the soldier steps up
accepting outwardly
Tears of pain and sheer regret
where no one else can see.
As the recognition
is shown for job done well
Soldier keeps his chin up proud
inside a living hell.
