Tho No One Watched

By Milton E. McKinney ©

aka  Breaktrack.

Another hero fell today, from a war long ago, and far away.

We stood for him to show respect, to honor service in his day.

A veteran of a war gone by who served in youthful days now past.

When the world was torn asunder yet he helped our freedom last.

His time was one that was in doubt as to our victory.

There were no easy answers then, no easy place to be.

When off he went to fight for us, his absence lasting years.

He and his kind did fight and die, a long, long trail of tears.

The Marines were there to show respect for all that he had done.

Their uniforms were sharp as tacks and shoes reflect the sun.

The ceremony short and sweet, no rifles here, no sharp report.

But the bugler played the sad refrain that means so much in notes so short.

The family watched the altar there, and held each other close and tight.

The flag was draped on marble slab, the urn sat small, a sad, sad sight.

And off behind the ceremony stood a Marine with no one there,

He held the bugle in his hands and waited for the call he was to share.

The bugle up, the notes he played, and Taps was heard by all.

We heard the old, old tune again, felt each note of the call..

And as they folded Old Glory once again they all turned back to see.

Tho no one watched that one Marine did not change one degree.

Tho no one watched he knew he still had one more duty to perform,

And what he did then warmed my heart and made that day transform.

His white gloved hand came up in slow and silent hand salute.

And paused there at his white hat’s brim and gave that grave tribute.

Then slowly, oh so slowly, he brought that hand down to his side.

He knew he’d done his duty now to a hero who had died.

He stood there tall and silent now to show more honor still,

He’d done the task and now there was no other to fulfill.

Tho no one watched he’d known the thing was bigger than himself,

He knew the duty to perform was not up on some shelf.

It lives in each of us this day to stand up straight and tall.

To show our heroes gratitude for answering the call.

Tho no one watches us this day and cares not where we go,

We’ve lots of honor and respect, we have to let them know.

So stand up tall and silent for the heroes who are gone,

Be like that one lone bugler and let honor carry on.

Copy right ©2006 by Milton McKinney, All rights reserved