No, Freedom Isn't Free
I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.
I watched the flag pass by one day.
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil?
How many mothers' tears?
How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea?
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.
I heard the sound of taps one night,
When everything was still
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That taps had meant "Amen"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.
********************************
May we never, ever forget the sacrifices so many have made for our freedom.
God Bless America!
When everything was still
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That taps had meant "Amen"
When a flag had draped a coffin
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.
********************************
May we never, ever forget the sacrifices so many have made for our freedom.
God Bless America!
11 comments:
Wonderful post and you are so right! May we never forget their sacrifice!
Blessings,
Erin
Well, that brought tears to this mother's eyes. How true, how true.
I have goosebumps everywhere! And it's a good thing I'm typing because I'm all choked up. What greater respect can one have for something or someone other than a veteran? God alone, that's it. Beautiful post, Kat!
Love,
Julie
A very touching Post, I'm sure we have all lost loved ones to war and just the simple act of bowing our heads and saying their names aloud keeps their memory alive.
hugs
Sandi
A very touching Post, I'm sure we have all lost loved ones to war and just the simple act of bowing our heads and saying their names aloud keeps their memory alive.
hugs
Sandi
Beautiful poem in honor of our veterans! I am truly thankful for our freedom!!
So true Kat!
Lest we forget what our freedom costs.
Thanks for posting this. The kids and I have been studying the Civil War - what a tragedy - another war where thousands died for freedom.
That is such a nice poem Kat. It really makes you appreciate all of the sacrifices made for us.
This is so beautiful, Kat. Thank you.
I love this poem. Thanks for remembering the veterans Kat.
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