My husband belongs to a local veterans group that meets once a month. Twice a year they hold a potluck meeting and invite the wives, girlfriends, children along. During these times I observe everyone and during the last meeting these verses recently came to my mind.


THE WAR VETS

I look at their forlorn faces
And their jaded eyes
The realities of the wars they fought
have made them more than wise

They were just youngsters
when they were sent to war
But seeing the harshness of it all
They had become youths no more

Friend were made
And friends were lost
War has such a heavy cost

Although that period of time
is now long gone
Those memories just
seem to linger on

These men, they know they're aging fast
But they can't let go of the past
They've formed a kinship
this group of war vets
Proud that they served
in a time they'll never forget

Their comradeship shall persevere
They've learned to enjoy the Now and Here

I salute these men
for their strong will and pride
And keeping the memories
of friends who've died

And as each man someday moves on
to join our keeper in the other life
We shall keep the candles burning
with perpetual light

Copyright ©2000 Edith Bael


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