Honor Has A Name

To go to war

And serve one’s country

Requires many things  --

It requires sacrifice and dedication

As to others it brings    

Freedom often at a very high cost  --

It creates situations

In which at times there is tremendous loss  --

 Heros exchange warmth for cold  --

Risk of gain for loss

        Of youth and never growing old  --

They exchange

Food and shelter

For hunger and the reality of a sleepless night  --

They exchange doing wrong

For doing what is right   --

They exchange peace for fire

With war’s forced issue  --

They exchange

Comfort joy and ease

Moment to moment for me and you  --

They exchange family time

For often lives in disarray

With no promise of another day  --

They exchange order

For no plan at all

For the opportunity

To prevent freedom’s fall  --

They exchange going to work

In the land of the free

For fighting in a foreign land

The free will never see  --

They exchange human fear

For discipline and direction  --

They exchange argument

And accept necessary correction  --

They exchange personal goals

For the privilege that others may be free

And would do it all again

For those just like you and me…

The hero’s exchange

Is one of distinction instead of fame  --

The hero’s exchange

Is the reason that honor

Has a name…©
 

March 30, 2007

By Juanita Pittman-Brown