Saturday, July 25, 2009

An Old Vet -- Who Cares

He knows what it's like
to fear for his life.
He knows how it feels
to board a plane,
deploying for combat.
He knows the feeling
of making it home alive.
He’s among the last people
soldiers see as they deploy
and the first they see upon their return.
The 64-year old vet has been there
to shake their hands
and give them a token of support:
a small American flag.
"When they get on that plane,
they're gonna know
that this old Vietnam vet cares."
'It's OK to be scared.
You stay scared, you stay alive.'"
Sometimes it breaks his heart
because he asks himself,
'Which one of these people
is not coming home?'"

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