"The Veteran"

Today I was reminded of
what time could not erase
As I walked through the halls I felt
a sadness in this place
A building filled with history
our books will never see
Their stories are the pages locked
inside their memory
It's one of many you will find
that's scattered everywhere
These people come here hoping to
receive the proper care
I saw a few in wheelchairs and
so many used a cane
Some walked just fine but in their eyes
was where I saw the pain
These Heroes have been marked for life
all here surrounding me
They've shed their blood while others died
to keep this country free
I still remember stories of
a war my Dad went through
Each one was told with Army Pride
he called it "World War II"
And later "The Korean War"
forced troops to say good-bye
Because Korea's North and South
could not see eye to eye
Then "Viet Nam" decided to
raise up it's ugly head
Like all the wars, the damage left
so many people dead
When troops came home they had to face
another kind of war
A "War of Words" that added wounds
as if they needed more
The latest war was televised
for all the world to see
Called "Operation Desert Storm"
performed so perfectly
This war had ended quickly
but our troops cannot forget
They're constantly reminded
that the "Storm's" not over yet
These wars do not discriminate
religion, sex or race
The bombs, grenades and poison gas
take lives we can't replace
And weapons don't have boundaries
they claim what's in their way
What will it take to stop these wars
right here, right now, today
Our troops are thought so highly of
when they are called to war
But when it's over they are not
remembered anymore
And what about the ones still lost
are they forgotten too?
Is anyone still searching for
the one's who fought for you
These men and women suffer more
than you will ever know
When war is over they still fight
a war that doesn't show
Each one deserves the very best
for what they have been through
Your proof is V. A. Hospitals
I'm sure there's one near you
We all want Peace and Harmony
but something's always wrong
These buildings might become extinct
if we could get along
My husband fought the last two wars
which stole the heart he had
He wears that look of war abuse
just like my precious Dad
I don't have all the answers but
I know one thing for sure
The anger has to leave before
a healing can occur
America is free because
of Veterans today
And more of them still yet to come
will also have to pay
So when you exercise your rights
remember why you can
You see, I can't forget because
I am "The Veteran"

By:
Freda H. Babinski
©February 9^th, 1997

"God Bless You"