A hero lays now before us
Draped in the flag of his land
Having died serving his country
In defense of our freedom he did stand
People have all gathered together
Their lasts respects they come to pay
Saying their praises of this hero
As in this hallowed ground he will lay
I hear the calling of the sound
On a grassy knoll a lone bugler does stand
The notes fall across this bed of green
As God reaches out his welcoming hand
A medal is given in their honor
Telling of wounds this hero did receive
A meaningless medal in my hands I now hold
Worthless to me in my heart I do believe
No medal can replace the loved one before us
A worthless medal this day I did receive
The flag is presented in honor of this hero
Folded in silence and respect to the brave
Laid into my trembling hands as I sit there
Rather my hero I wish they now gave
Tears fall from sad filled eyes in silence
A pain fills our hearts as there we sit
The loud report of rifles fired into the air
The heart of pain will never quit
Praise is given to this hero in worship
Our last good-byes we all will now say
I place that worthless medal on his coffin
So he can cherish it in his own way
Our hero is now laying at his final rest
A worthless medal buried along side
The hero will always be in our hearts now
Uncaring where that worthless medal does reside
So take all the medals you give to families
For heroes that they have lost in war
Knowing that they mean little of nothing
Never replacing loved ones killed on a distant shore
© Tall Mountain Dreamer March 27, 2008
