I wrote this awhile back for my son. He's walpurgis around these parts. I also was asked if this piece could be submitted by friend of mine to the Disabled Vererans Magazine. I haven't heard that it was accepted or not yet, but I was honored that a vet asked my permission to do it. Wally liked it so I thought I'd share it with you. God bless ya, kid. And thanks for your kind words to Wally and for reading this.

"Dedicated to My Son"

Open your eyes and see as I do
From a sailing soldier's view.
You think that I'm a lover of conflict.
That's not the story at all.
The destruction all around the world
Breaks my heart.
I hold arms to keep you safe,
But some just refuse to see-
That sometimes peace can only be made
By force.
And sometimes that takes dying.

You've spat upon my flag and uniform,
But you wouldn't have that freedom
If not for those before me
That saw the same vision as me.
I'm offering my life as a sacrifice
To a land I love, and to you,
To preserve it for you,
Your sons and daughters.

Soldiers don't become soldiers
Because they want to kill.
We all want to live in peace,
But the the world is brutal
And those who condemn me
Are condemning themselves
And the ones they love
To a living death.
I'm proud of what I am.
A sailor, an American soldier.

BJH

well...it has heart.

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