Honoring Our Aging Veterans

The Greatest Generation lived from day to day

With the Depression and poverty,

Ration cards and World War II,

Men far away from families

Not for a business trip or a few days,

In life-or-death combat for years.

They came home, the lucky ones,

And bore their wounds in silence.  They were heroes,

Their country proud, but they stood back,

Saying only, it was their duty to serve.

Families grew, housing tracts sprouted,

Wives wondered if casseroles, a clean house

And playing bridge were enough. 

And the fathers couldn’t answer,

Not having been taught

To use their words, except in anger.

They are old now, the Greatest Generation,

Each city’s hospitals and nursing homes

Filled with quiet eyes and rheumy coughs,

And memories of America united,

Giving all, saying little, hearts filled

With pride and love for freedom

And the USA.