Highway of Heroes
They have returned, in wood splintered pine boxes
One flag traded for one life
Boys filled with bravado and hope, now coffins filled with lost dreams
They marched off in Glory, not for war
They wished a better world
A desire to defeat all what is evil
A thirst for the thrill of life
Wishing a pretty girl would see them in uniform
They have flown home
Over oceans of tears
The brave die young
The rest of us can only bow our heads
Sadness envelopes the final journey
Notes:
This poem is dedicated specifically to the Canadian men and women who lost their lives in Afghanistan, as well as to those who god bless returned home alive.
Let me say this, this was not a War. We were not fighting an enemy in the normal sense. So you ask, then what was it? This was an intervention to bring peace, to protect the weak, to protect woman. Canadian Forces were involved in the building of roads and schools, the protection of the general population, and also education. If this breakdown in society happened inside of Canada, it would not be called a war, we would be demanding our government provide us proper police protection and law and order.
If you wish to blame this on another religion, then I say to you, Afghanistan was the same religion in the 1950’s 60’s and 70’s when woman were free to dress , to go to school and not have to cover their faces. If you were to see photos they dressed much as America did at that time. If a man tosses acid onto a woman’s face, this is not a war, this is a crime. So, because a man made boundary exists, should be turn our backs?
You may be debate the value of this effort, the success or failure, or even agree or disagree if we should be involved. However, our men and woman in uniform gave their lives to try and make this world a better place. If you are a gardener, and you weed your garden, you will never win, the weeds always come back, yet as a gardener you never give up trying to make the flowers bloom.
What have you done today to make this world a better happier place?
Note 2 Canada has renamed a portion of the Trans Canada Highway, the "Highway of Heroes" you may google this to find out more info!
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