Soldier's Pride

I did not write this poem my father did. I am sharing this in his honor.

My dad and I have never been on great terms, relationship wise.  He has brought a lot of negative feelings and distrust to my brother and me. He is a shy, friendly, helpful and generous man to others. He was my best friend and was my closest companion. I wanted everyone to cherish a poem he wrote it brings tears to my eyes. So even though he is not around I still am glad that he was able to be a major contributor to me being born. So here is a poem written by my father,  Marc Curtis Carpenter:

 

Soldier's Pride

 

I'm not a political person, I really don't

have a view.

But I've voted in a couple elections

and I've had an opinion or two.

Our country used to stand for something

for strength and power and might.

Our military was the finest around,

without a rival in sight.

But the face of war has changed these days,

and fights are smaller and nastier.

There are no front and rear lines now,

and death comes at you faster.

In the days of old you could see your foes,

marching at you with banners flying.

And now snipers shoot from upstairs windows,

and IEDs blow up the highways.

There is no honor in warfare now,

with children carrying bombs,

They decapitate troops on tv screens,

and burn our flag in mobs.

I wore my uniform proudly for just over 22 years,

I stood at attention and saluted my flag,

and the anthem brought me to tears.

We need to remember our proud traditions,

when soldiering stood for something.

When the stars and stripes meant power and glory,

and the nation stood for one thing..............FREEDOM.

 

Marc C. Carpenter        U.S.A.F.  (Ret.)