The five brothers stood together shoulder to shoulder

Their faces bowed down, watching the ceremony below

These five brothers were not blood brothers

Nor brothers in the legal sense as well

They watched as the American flag snapped in the breeze at half staff

Beneath, the POW flag also snapped in time

They watched as six escorts carried a flag draped coffin

Slowly, the coffin was lowered to the straps above the grave

They watched as the Honor Guard stepped back one-step

At parade rest, each of them proud of this detail

The five brothers looked at each other approvingly

For they had been there, and done that

They looked and saw the seven-person rifle squad

Also at parade rest, their weapons leaning outward

The two buglers were ready at opposite corners of the small cemetery

Ready to play the haunting sound of TAPS with an echo

Softly, they heard the honor guard and rifle team come to attention

Above, the five brothers came to attention as well

For they now looked down to see the flag from the coffin slowly raised up

They watched as the honor guard prepared to fold the flag

With dignified reverence, the flag was properly folded and prepared

Till the flag was in the tri-corner shape with the blue field and stars on top

Slowly, the senior member secured the flag in between his hands

He presented the flag to the family and slowly saluted the flag

The rifle team became ready with their weapons pointed heavenward

“Ready, Aim, Fire” is the command three times

Those in uniform salute their fallen comrade

As the team fires, everyone jerks and tears start to flow unashamed

The haunting tones of Taps begins from one corner

Chills are sent thru everyone as the second bugle begins to echo

The five brothers look at each other and nod approval

Not a tear in their eyes as they can cry no more

The five look down and wave forward their next brother

The five brothers are no more for now they are six

All brothers with one identical reason

For they had all been killed in combat

Never to feel the shock and trauma to their bodies

They now stand in line, shoulder to shoulder, the oldest one first

In order they were WWI, WWII, Korea, then

 Vietnam, Desert Storm and now War on Terror

Let us not forget our veterans on November 11^th

© Merrill A. Vaughan

October 2003