While stationed with the US Army at the Presidio of Monterey, California, I often supervised funeral details for old veterans.
The detail lowered the colors: That weathered flag with stripes and stars, That had crossed so many borders In declared and undeclared wars. Young soldiers debark for glories. The detail lowered the colors. Old survivors tell their stories Of comrades who died in valor. We refused to doubt their honors, Though causes have been disputed. The detail lowered the colors, While veterans were saluted. To the widows, kind words were said. The rifle squads rendered honors, Then respectfully Taps were played. The detail lowered the colors. 20140625. Note--'colors' means not only shades and tints of frequencies of light, but also refers to to a national flag in a military formation.
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