....I will never be sure why God acts this way

When 17 went home before their time the other day

With Flags over coffins

They were heroes they say

In a war that claimed many questions, too few answers

The memory of the sentinels of heroes burns in my mind

I will never forget you as the pain is forever

Smiles turned now into a stare of horror and disbelief

Now a family waits to bury someone

A bugle plays taps as a coffin is lowered 17 times

Somewhere in a little town, or a big city

One was a Dad with a young sick child but no Mother

Another just barely a man with coming of age---

now forever young in eternity

Still there was Scott, on his last mission,

he waved a permanent goodbye to me

Or how about that tall guy---yeah basketball man...

Hoops and smiles no longer

I wonder what it was like to be in a company of heroes

During their final moments when life and death

hangs in the balance

Did they say how much they want out of life?

But hope is what makes us all one

To think that life has just begun

for 17 heroes.

© Myles Saulibio (7/14/07)