When my nephew was a young boy
he wanted to join the service
He looked up to the men in blue
He wanted model planes instead of toys.
he imagined sailing the ocean's surface
on a naval ship with a big crew.
As he grew up those dreams got delayed
family matters needed tending to.
His mom was divorced with no dad around
So till his sister was old enough he stayed.
My sister used to say he'd never go
But he argued and defiantly stood his ground
After my mother died he knew it was time
As my niece was growing older and was alright.
My sister still insisted he couldn't go.
But this was his mountain to climb
Something he believed was worth the fight.
It was a belief that it'd help him grow.
I gave him my blessings, as his aunt.
and told him I'd always be a call away
Just be careful and safe were my words.
That this experience is what he wants.
So before he left we knelt to pray.
in that moment his fears could be heard.
So off to boot camp, he went for training.
though it was rough and at times painful
He didn't give up to come back home again.
I spoke to him and rarely heard him complaining.
He learned to safely handle weapons and tools.
he was part of a team, one of the men.
When he was done he was sent over to Afghanistan.
He was assigned to be a medic while over there
it suited his personality quite well indeed
Though it was difficult to see such devastation
he did his best to let the wounded know he cares.
He'd reassure them he'd take care of their need.
He came home a totally different person
Though he is still the special boy I raised inside
He was reserved and would often hesitate
As if he did or said something would hurt someone
He saw some really close comrades suffered and died
It takes a strong person to lay down their lives
to fight a force full of evil and hate.
The government's greed and ignorance
has caused a lot of valuable people and family
to leave this world far too soon, it's not right
How they control the nation and circumstance
But they won't fight in these needless wars, in other countries
Their greed and ignorance are why we can't end the fight.
Then to cause more burdens to our veterans
They aren't treated fair when they come back
Our own government treats them like dirt
Unable to be appreciated in their homeland
It doesn't matter in they're rich or poor, white or black
The medical treatment isn't there if they're sick or hurt.
I
© Bonnie J Hollywood-Cutts