The American Hero
For just one moment
he felt the thrill of the battle
the daring to go
desire compelled him
to face fear
and know
the mission was worthy
of this nation so true
to the concept of freedom
the red white
and blue.
He’d wanted to touch her
one fleeting last time
to hold her and tell her
this mission divine
comes to each woman
and to man:
to stand
and be counted —
to humbly demand
their place
among the valiant
and the heroes who tried,
the victors
who lived or died
but did not shirk
duty
or run from the fight:
They stood with God
in leading the fight
undefiled
so each man,
woman
and child
could prevail
with freedom
alive.
The American Hero
is courage personified
and each step taken
for liberty
is a voice that never dies.
The song of freedom
is a chorus oft sung
in battle and in fury
but sometimes
the fight is also won
with the bounty
of silence
the love of country
lived each day
in comfort
and in solace,
in homage
to the sacrifices paid
long ago and far away
or
even on this day
in a nation
where each person
aspires to this name:
American.
Debra Milligan
1 May 2016