The Old Vet

I took my four year old one time to a July fourth parade We found a place that offered us a little bit of shade Sitting there close by to us was a white haired older man His eyes were fixed on something as the parading soon began My son was fascinated by the old man’s intense stare And soon we saw he was looking at the flag waving in the air It was the first thing passing by us as the parade began to start And the old man struggled to his feet with his cap across his heart As we stood next to this gentleman my young son asked me why The older man was shaking and had a tear forming in his eye Once we all were seated and the parade went on its way We spoke with the older gentleman and proudly did he say That he had served in the Marine Corps during World War Two And he was very proud he’d served the red, white, and the blue He said he’d lost his brother and his very dearest friend But it had been an honor to have this country to defend The older man then said he’d lost his son in Vietnam And he said I couldn’t tell you just how proud of him I am I hope that some will think about the sacrifice he made So that we can all be here to watch this beautiful parade The old man then put his hand on my son’s tiny head And he gently ruffled up his hair as quietly he said My son’s name was James but we always called him Jim And seeing you here with your Dad it makes me think of him My son sat very quietly moving next to the old chap And reached into the bag we’d brought to get his baseball cap He put the cap upon his head as we watched a marching band And slowly he reached up and took the old man by the hand Soon another flag passed by and I was quick to realize The old man wasn’t the only one with a tear forming in his eyes My own eyes started misting as I stood there most impressed As my son stood with a proud marine with his cap across his chest