To the Mothers and the Fathers

To the Mothers and the Fathers (for David, Patti and Chandler) By Franklin Price To the mothers and the fathers For the children you have raised Who went to the Marine Corps One and all of you be praised Parents left at home Were to remain be left behind Thoughts for the child who left them To grow in body and in mind Was a difficult decision Parents and child had to cope Would not be physically together To climb the wall and slide the rope Mentally and physically The child had to be in shape For the stress and strain of drilling And to stand up to the tape When the Crucible was over And the last test had been passed The Eagle, Globe and Anchor Would be your child's at last A child no longer standing For a grown up now is seen One who has earned the title Of United States Marine