Decoration Day

We called it Decoration Day When I was just a kid And up ‘til now, I never knew Exactly why we did. I always thought that it referred To stripes that soldiers earned Or stars and bars for officers, But that’s not what I learned. I googled it to double-check And found out I was wrong. The “decorations” were for graves And have been all along. For each serviceman who fought And lost his life in sacrifice, Just a marker on his resting place Would simply not suffice. So as tribute and remembrance, With a flag or a bouquet, We should beautify a soldier’s grave On Decoration Day. No matter what you call it, When our flag is flown half-mast, Take a moment for reflection On our soldiers who have passed.