I remember that day long ago
You were one year out of high school
Serving eight years Washington National Guard
Good job, good pay building Boeing Airplanes
A new baby sister four years old
Home seemed good--but the Marines
Well they needed a few good men
The world was in an uneasy peace
You remembered your talks with Grandpa
Saluting the flag--"I'm going to be a Marine!"
"Son you are six foot three cramped in a submarine."
"You have only one good ear eyesight bad."
All those friends if drafted would go to Canada
"Son you flunked a physical you are free"
You can fly off into the wild blue yonder!
"But son, vertigo, not seeing things clear!"
But a man you be and know one can say differently
No coward, you can be a medic in the emergency room
A year later lonely for home in Korea
Thirty kilometers from the DMZ and North Korea
The road in front of you torn apart by bullets
Surrounded by soldiers but you make it home
Memorial Day is not for you it for those who did not come home
Those frightened boys just like you
The Pilot you watched crawling from the cockpit
After the crash waving when the plane blew up
The downed pilot you searched for and never found
Not for the love poet--bowing your head at parades
The veteran with tears in his eyes salutes every flag
For in that casket he remembers a friend
A frightened young boy far from home just like you
The you is me and so many like me who take pride
in saluting you who did not make it home on Memorial day