The Ones

Born into the world as an innocent child,
not exposed yet to the world of the wild,
learn to walk and learn to talk,
learn to read and learn to succeed,
enter school at a ripe young age,
through the years we grow,
girlfriends and boyfriends, best friends and sleepovers,
seeing the world now through the eyes of the media,
things happen and we can no longer shelter ourselves from the truth,
wars rage and people die, people serve and their loved ones cry,
turning 18 and going to graduate soon,
begin the ride of the recruiters swoon,
cap and gown on and pictures being taken,
off to boot camp in a month all the hands I've been shaking,
once again it's graduation day,
dress right eyes front it's time to parade,
see my family again before I embark on my mission,
once again pictures to be taken and hands to be shaken,
one last hug and a kiss on the cheek,
from my mom and my dad with smiles on their faces,
I see the tears as sadness appears,
we love you, write often, are the last words to be said,
a turn and salute and a nod of my head,
flight to nowhere is concerning and scary,
I step onto the tarmac and see all the weary,
It's time for my first patrol at just 18 years old,
not knowing if I will ever return to the life that I learned,
yelling and screaming and shots in the air,
this stuff is real so why don't they care,
my best friend is now draped with a flag,
one last salute then back to mom and dad,
been a year now it's time to go home,
it's veterans that made this country today,
for those who will never get to come home,
we are living free because of your courage,
thank you forever for your freedom endeavor,
one last salute for you now and forever....