"FOR THE COUNTRY YOU LOVED" (REVISED, REPOST)
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You didn't run,
Even though you could have,
Because you were scared to death.
You didn't protest,
Because although you hated the thought of war,
You hated people disrespecting our nation and flag even more.
You went willingly,
And it devastated your family
And me.
Because you're gone now.
You are a name 
Among many names
On the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall.
Panel 20 W,
Row 23,
Fourth name in from the left.
Gone from my life,
But never from my heart.
I miss you.
God, how I miss you, Buddy.
19 July, 1969.
Binh Dinh, Vietnam.
That's when our world came crashing down.
That's when you died.
You saved me.
You took the bullet that had my name on it.
I never got a chance to say, "Thank you."
You died a hero, man.
You died proud,
for the country you loved.
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(C) Copy written, 2003/Revised, 2004, by Karla Dorman.