I saw a burial with the bugler blowing taps
I turned to my father"Whats happening"?i asked
he touched my hand and with a quiver in his voice
he began to explain and his eyes became moist

"My son"he said"This is difficult for me.
for an old veteran like me,this is tough to see
in that coffin lies a patriotic warrior
an honest to God hero,an American soldier"

"I appreciate that soldier and the service he gave
and I honor his sacrifice,as he's laid in his grave
he was honorable,courageous and bold
please remember him son,as you grow old

the value of his service I must explain
if not remembered will be lost in vain
as a nation,we are nothing,without soldiers like him
and failing to remember would be a sin

I listened in awe as my father spoke
It seemed as if his heart was broke
I suddenly remember when he too went to war
and when he returned I thought nothing more


I never asked why he walked with a limp
and I didn't care that he was sick
I was too busy enjoying the life I had
to realize that it was because of my dad

I finally understood what dad was about
and it hurt so bad,I cried out loud
he sacrificed so much so I could be free
and his battle scars were suffered for me

it was my fathers spirit that spoke to me that day
I finally understood what he had to say
I saluted his coffin as they laid him to rest
and I thought about the medals pinned on his chest



that i didn't honor him sooner,I will always regret
and I pledged that day to never again forget
I'm proud that my dad was a patriotic warrior
I'm honored to be the son of an American soldier

(Ed Coet-2007)

Wonderful post, BB.

I could not help but think of my beloved Father when I read your poem. Sadly, I never really understood my Dad as well as when I turned close to forty and began to associate my own experiences to what had been going through his mind for those many years after WWII & Korea. That was because I began to realize what had changed so much in me during and for years after Viet Nam. He and I had our best years together once we talked and I realized our common bond. He had probably recognized it long before I did. We discussed/shared similar stories and memories of the duties, responsibilities and casualties of war. And, as the signs in VA clinics states, we understood that 'Not all scars are visible.'

Sadly, my Dad passed away far too early...at the age of sixty-two, during the Gulf War. We had far too little time together after coming to finally understanding one another. I am fast approaching sixty-eight and am still trying to salvage all I can of my life in spite of all my past mistakes and experiences, not just those limited to Viet Nam. My family deserves the very best of both who I am and what I am to be. I aim to continue improving...not just for myself...but, primarily for them.

This patriotic son of an American Hero gave our country the very best of his youth. I owe both it and my family as much, now.

I saw a burial with the bugler blowing taps
I turned to my father"Whats happening"?i asked
he touched my hand and with a quiver in his voice
he began to explain and his eyes became moist

"My son"he said"This is difficult for me.
for an old veteran like me,this is tough to see
in that coffin lies a patriotic warrior
an honest to God hero,an American soldier"

"I appreciate that soldier and the service he gave
and I honor his sacrifice,as he's laid in his grave
he was honorable,courageous and bold
please remember him son,as you grow old

the value of his service I must explain
if not remembered will be lost in vain
as a nation,we are nothing,without soldiers like him
and failing to remember would be a sin

I listened in awe as my father spoke
It seemed as if his heart was broke
I suddenly remember when he too went to war
and when he returned I thought nothing more


I never asked why he walked with a limp
and I didn't care that he was sick
I was too busy enjoying the life I had
to realize that it was because of my dad

I finally understood what dad was about
and it hurt so bad,I cried out loud
he sacrificed so much so I could be free
and his battle scars were suffered for me

it was my fathers spirit that spoke to me that day
I finally understood what he had to say
I saluted his coffin as they laid him to rest
and I thought about the medals pinned on his chest



that i didn't honor him sooner,I will always regret
and I pledged that day to never again forget
I'm proud that my dad was a patriotic warrior
I'm honored to be the son of an American soldier

(Ed Coet-2007)

I saw a burial with the bugler blowing taps
I turned to my father"Whats happening"?i asked
he touched my hand and with a quiver in his voice
he began to explain and his eyes became moist

"My son"he said"This is difficult for me.
for an old veteran like me,this is tough to see
in that coffin lies a patriotic warrior
an honest to God hero,an American soldier"

"I appreciate that soldier and the service he gave
and I honor his sacrifice,as he's laid in his grave
he was honorable,courageous and bold
please remember him son,as you grow old

the value of his service I must explain
if not remembered will be lost in vain
as a nation,we are nothing,without soldiers like him
and failing to remember would be a sin

I listened in awe as my father spoke
It seemed as if his heart was broke
I suddenly remember when he too went to war
and when he returned I thought nothing more


I never asked why he walked with a limp
and I didn't care that he was sick
I was too busy enjoying the life I had
to realize that it was because of my dad

I finally understood what dad was about
and it hurt so bad,I cried out loud
he sacrificed so much so I could be free
and his battle scars were suffered for me

it was my fathers spirit that spoke to me that day
I finally understood what he had to say
I saluted his coffin as they laid him to rest
and I thought about the medals pinned on his chest



that i didn't honor him sooner,I will always regret
and I pledged that day to never again forget
I'm proud that my dad was a patriotic warrior
I'm honored to be the son of an American soldier

(Ed Coet-2007)

In the endless procession of souls... in what cannot and will not be destroyed. I want to believe we are unaware of G*d's eternal recompense and sadness. That we cannot see His t***h. That that which is born still lives and cannot be buried in the cold earth. But only waits to be born again at G*d's behest... where in ancient starlight we lay in repose.

I am most thankful to those who have served, those who gave their lives, for the freedoms they secured for me and my family and all Americans whether they recognize those sacrifices or not. I appreciate your thread. Sad and uplifting all rolled together.