Generations of Honor Old and wizened, with lessened grace He sat upon a chair of wood; Creaking, the melody ‘twas heard, And whispers soft enough to miss Were speaking then of days long past And memories too pained to keep; Yet pass, they’d not, for in his heart Their bed was made, and tightly tucked. There at his side, a younger man, Standing tall and proud, but grave Of manner, borne from serviced years, Whose days had borne much pain From confrontation’s ugly stains, The scars would never go away; Reminders there right by his side--- A sleeve to dangle in the wind. Upon the steps and younger still, In garb of green and brown, and tan, With eyes of steel, an air of will, Proud fire a’blazing in his heart Stood yet another, image stern, And stepped he out into the yard To lift it up, to let it wave, A standard proud through many years. The old one rose, tears in his eyes As joining in the solemn airs; Old hands and young together pulled Upon the ropes of all their dreams And high in blue the mem’ries then Flew hard and free within the stars; Red, white, and blue they honored all; Tears ran as lifeblood to the ground. Those gone before were ever missed, and they were honored, one and all.