Never Forget
I once saw a child standing under the flag
He asked why it hung there half-way
I thought it’d be easy to say what it meant
But couldn’t find right words to say
I wasn’t too sure that he would understand
My talk about war and on death
So I tried to find words that I thought he could grasp
So I paused and then took a deep breath
Before I could speak he then shot up his hand
And shouted “I know what it’s for!”
“They did the same thing after my dad had died
Because he was killed in the war”
He continued to say “now my dad is in heaven
And that’s why the flag’s raised half-way”
“To let my dad know and all soldiers who died
We’ll remember them always today”
He stopped and stared at me-I looked in his eyes
He suddenly lowered his head
Tears ran down his cheeks and then he took my hands
And wiped them away and then said
“It makes me feel sad-just seeing the flag
I know that it means someone died”
I then felt my tears-that couldn’t hold back
I picked him up and we both cried
On memorial days when the flag is half-raised
I remember that kid that I met
Now that I’m a dad I will make sure my son
Understands so he’ll never forget
Copyright © Gregory Boyer | Year Posted 2013
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