FOR MOTHERS AND PARATROOPERS

Thinking back, across the years,
Many remembrances bring forth the tears...
My earliest recollection of those days gone by,
Just a little boy, Mother, drying tears from my eyes...

Standing by a flag draped coffin,
Bewildered by what was in the offing...
Two uniformed soldiers stood at attention,
A priest offering words of comfort and affection...

Family and friends paying their last respects,
As my parents gasped for breath...
In that closed coffin lay their first born,
My paratrooper brother, who I so adored...

I was just a lad of four,
From my eyes, the tears just poured...
For you see, he was a hero to me,
Now he was gone, replaced, by unwanted sympathy...

I remember, looking, way up at him,
How he'd smile and flash that grin...
He'd pick me up, set me on his knee,
Showing the love, he had for me....

He'd tell me stories, that were so brave,
Jumping from airplanes, he wasn't afraid...
Told me, when I was bigger, I could do it too,
Wouldn't be long, I could serve the Red, White and Blue...

Said he had to go to Korea, to fight in a war,
Flipped me a half dollar, for candy at the store...
"Don't worry, Pete, I'll be alright,
It's my job, I'm trained to fight"...

There was no doubt, he'd be just fine,
How his jump boots, cast that shine...
That glider patch sewed to his hat,
That Infantry braid, around his shoulder, fast...

Those silver wings upon his chest,
They only gave those, to the very best...
That blue scarf, just for guys real tough,
That "AIRBORNE" patch, the finishing touch...

Had no doubt, that he'd be fine,
Had no idea, we had so little time...
After he left, my Mom would cry,
Didn't understand that last, goodbye...

Now, standing there, feeling so sad and alone,
What was this coffin doing in my home...
I don't believe it, he can't be dead,
This is not the way, it was supposed to end...

Everybodys leaving, getting in their cars,
Not saying "goodbye", they can't go far...
Soon we end up at the church,
The priest says the eulogy, from his perch...

They say nice things, that I don't want to hear,
I look around around, feel a growing fear...
Soon it's time, we leave again,
Will this nightmare, ever end..?

As we travel, I look back,
See the hearse, big, sleek and black...
As we enter the cemetery gate,
Wishing something, could change our fate...

As they lowered him into the ground,
I looked around, my heart did pound...
Everybody, everybody, was in tears,
My Mother, holding that flag, oh so near...

"Don't cry Mother, it will be alright",
Not knowing if it would end her plight...
Didn't realize at that tender age,
There was no coming back, from the grave...

When I got older, I also went to war,
Fought many battles on distant shores...
Lost many, many friends, oh so dear,
Thinking back across the years...



How many folded flags, must Mothers hold,
For gallant paratroopers, so young and bold...
It is time for all, to catch our breath,
FOR MOTHERS AND PARATROOPERS, lets bow our heads, and reflect...