FROM BOY, TO MAN, TO HERO!
He was barely out of his teens,
But he was one of a kind:
Walking around in his blue jeans,
With fast cars and girls on his mind.
He received a letter that was sent,
From Washington D. C.
It was from the President,
He thought, "What could he want from me?"
His service was needed ASAP,
There was no denying,
Taken away from his family,
Despite the tears he was crying.
Since that day his world had changed,
A brand new world began.
And his whole life was rearranged,
That boy had become a man.
Before he knew it he was on the way,
Headed for Vietnam,
What he endured night and day,
He could never tell Dad and Mom.
There were snipers in the trees,
And mine fields on the ground,
They could feel the breeze,
Of sprayed Agent Orange all around.
With the notice of his return,
There was no joy on his mind.
But with guilt his heart did burn,
For the ones who were left behind.
As he stepped off the plane,
There were a few to greet,
But not with cheers: with pain
And spitting on his feet.
And back inside his town,
Yellow ribbons, there were none,
Most people had a frown,
From society he was shunned.
As time went on it took its toll,
From Diabetes to PTSD,
He gave it all, his heart and soul,
So we could all be free.
In his yard he has a sign
That hangs night and day.
It only has just one line
That says, “Thank a Veteran today!”