The Sun Was Setting

the sun was setting motorcycles were coming in as strays it was a gathering of eagles the parking lot fills before the sun has disappeared into the horizon another red-to-orange day's ending in the Arizona sky due to absorption-specific light frequencies why the sky is blue and not violet eyes' blue rods aid in the deception small groups wandered the lot waiting for further instructions eagles prominent upon patched-filled vests leather to denim decorated in personalities patches of every flavor statement exposed death before dishonor two words one finger medicated for your protection never ride faster than your angel can fly we were waiting for instructions from commanders, airport, and military this wait centered on a plane that was carrying a fallen soldier home to his family from Afghanistan they are called Angel Flights they possess the number one authority while in the air coming home all air traffic must yield to this flight even Air Force One must pause there would be a short ceremony before the fallen soldier is officially released to the family we were there to see to it the body and family were escorted a long line of single headlights behind three in front to the funeral home, stand guard as family and friends gathered in their mourning then disappear into the night we would return in the morning to escort the body and family to the church where all would come and pay their respects we would stand guard until it was time to move the mourners and family to the last ceremony which would be at the gravesite where we would stand with flags the military would present a flag to the family and a gun salute escorting along the highway cars would pull to the curb exit, salute as we passed times children with flags stood hands-on their hearts at the ceremony's end, we leave it is that ride home where any anger one has with political musings is quelled in the knowing no matter what the streets complain about America in the end is living on a path where all is where it should be when we honor those who have served so we all may pursue the dream while we will never achieve perfection we are the shining city on a hill why the world seeks our shores why the Patriot Guard is there to remember the fallen and guarantee all goes according to the respect it deserves a mission we have never failed in OKC 7/22