Memory
by Roger Montgomery
Soldiers lived and died
And for them our hearts do bleed
So we now show our debt and respect
By honoring their memory.
And we know the dead who died
And sacrificed to make us free
Will be pleased with our attempts
In honoring their memory.
Every veteran had family and friends
And a future they would not see
So we now attempt to live for them
And this memory.
Hopes for family and for friends
And a country that is free
Fighting for family, friends, and peace
They left behind a memory.
So many reasons they gave us
There are reasons such as these
They had dreams bigger than themselves
And they were bigger than a memory.
For the ones who put flowers on their graves
And wish there could be
One more moment in this world
To share another memory.
Now the ones who view our flag
With a lump where their throat should be
Who are ……….what are they
Because of a memory.
Whose life has been affected
By all this tragedy
Whose hasn’t could be answered more easily
So will you bow your head in honor and respect with me.
For all the sacrifices in this world
So many we’ll never see
Only understood by those honored ones
We owe this memory.
And others have also been affected by them
Every friend or family
Some who have suffered along with them
We owe this memory.
For all the moms and dads who ever cried
And all the medics who cannot sleep
And all the wives hugging an empty pillow
We owe this memory.
For friends and families with broken hearts
And the Vets who cannot walk and see
For all the wounded, body and soul
We owe this memory.
For those who put their hand on a wall
Through tears we’ll never see
And hold a medal for someone else
We owe this memory.
For all the children asking for their dads
And wondering why it can’t be
For all the answers that are not
We owe this memory.
So we don’t burn our flag
Like the ones who demonstrate in the streets
For we recognize this great privilege and heritage
Was paid for with a memory.
For all the ones who rise up
And call this country free
It is …. and it is not
Because of a memory.
No man lives of himself
We’re either slaves or we’re free
Blood was the price that was paid
And it deserves a memory.
And so we bow our heads in respect
For the price paid for being free
So that America and all it’s people
Will not be just a memory.
For all the moms and dads who have ever cried
And all the medics who cannot sleep
And all of the wives hugging an empty pillow
We owe this memory.