Words of honor for "A Simple Flag"

[Al Sears]

Light breezes whisper through the secluded valley

The mournful sounds of taps echoes across the hills

Announcing the passage of a warrior ,borne from this earth

to a final reward befitting his dedication,courage and sacrifice

 

Six mourning brothers carry him to this place of finality

Solemnly marching to silent cadence of unheard voices

Boots shined to perfection,brass shinning in the sun

Eyes straight-ahead looking but not seeing ,lost in remembrance

 

Draped carefully over the warrior is a simple piece of cloth, A flag.

A shroud of honor reserved for those who fought to defend its purity

White stars resting proudly in a field of blue,alternating red and white

stripes.

America lost a son today,a patriot ,a man of honor ,and a guardian

of freedom

 

Just a small piece of cloth,a flag ceremoniously embracing a simple coffin

But a revered symbol of all that we have been ,of all that we are and

of all that we will be

A glorious banner that bears the stains of patriotic blood from millions

of its sons

And proudly waves its promise of freedom to the oppressed

 

A small repository ,six feet deep and three feet wide ,sanctified by the

creator

Ground now made hallowed by the remains of an American son,

a soldier of the flag

 

Freedom's work is work that can not be accomplished by cowards or

dissidents.

Only heroes pay the price of victory,the price of freedom,the price

of glory.

 

Guard you carefully this simple flag,this shroud of glory,this banner

of the brave.

let no man vilify this sacred cloth,nor disrespect its meaning,it'spurpose

it's intent

 

For intertwined with in the threads of this exalted standard lay the

souls of patriots

Who held it high in battle and sacrificed their lives to perpetuate its

Glory .

 

Written by Master Chief Larry Dunn USN Ret