Memorial Day Parade

The wounded vet marched in the town's

Memorial Day Parade

With feelings of pride along with the sense

Of having been betrayed.

 

He'd fought in nightmarish skirmishes

In a hellish no man's land,

Pledging allegiance to a country whose war

He didn't understand.

 

Though proud he was to have served his country,

He couldn't always claim

To be proud of his country at times,

Which was a rotten shame.

 

When signing up he knew he might

Have to pay a price--

But not the feeling of abandonment

For his sacrifice.

 

In some ways he felt lucky, for he'd

Returned with his duffel bag--

Unlike some of his friends who had

Come home wrapped in a flag.

 

The crowds cheered, the bands played,

The ceremony was formal.

Afterwards, the crowds would go home;

Their lives would go back to normal.

 

Normal for him was a daily struggle,

Therapy, medication,

Recurring dreams, unemployment,

Continuous frustration.

 

"No more empty promises;

No more tales or lies,"

He muttered softly as "Taps" was played

And tears streamed from his eyes.

 

(5-30-16)