On Sunday we had a family reunion and I wrote this poem to pass out to all the family members that have served.
Family
treeA little boy looks up into the family
tree,
And what does he see?
Names of heroes from his family, who have served,
who have kept his family free.
A mother looks up into the family
tree, and what does she see?
Her child"s stuffed toy, one from when he was a little boy.
Her sweet baby has gone off to war, she doesn"t know if she could take it any more.
Through the World Wars, Nam, Korea, Afghanistan and Iraq,
she prayed that one day he will be back.
And to all the sons and daughters, who are called to fight,
keep them safe for another night.
A wife looks up into the family
tree, and what does she see?
Today she stands under the family
tree all alone,
to raise their children to care for their home.
A bible she sees, handed down from military wife to military wife
to get them through this hard life.
When her husband returns with battle scars and nightmares at night,
with memories of those who were lost in that last fight.
With the bible in her hand, next to her husband she will still stand.
A grandfather looks up into the family
tree, and what does he see?
He sees a flag on a limb up high; it is tattered so a new one must fly.
As his old body carries him in the
tree, he sees himself,
and others who have served this nation and fought,
what sacrifices their duty has brought.
From the many days away from those they love, to goodbye to friends they'll not see till they're in heav'n above.
He replaces the old flag with the new, to show future generations what these brave men and women fought for you.
At the reunion, the whole family was staring at the family
tree and what did they see?
Images of Veterans from the wars fought in the past, to the soldiers who fight today.
A special place in our family these brave men and women will stay.
No matter your belief, your stand, remember those who protect this land.
by Janell Duncan