Wheeling the outdated warriors
off the Honor Flight aircraft
with flags and banners,
folks calling their names.
From Chosen to Kabul,
from Baghdad to Hue,
in any case these years
in the present day was their day.
Oh, the burden they carry,
I heard one lady say.
I ponder if our youngsters
would serve in the present day?
However not far off
one other aircraft left,
with troopers and sailors,
their solemn responsibility stored.
Close by, a younger spouse,
two youngsters at her facet.
It’s the burden she carries
because the aircraft took flight.
And throughout the ocean
in an historic land,
a lowered metal ramp,
a track from a band.
A flag-draped coffin.
A fallen hero inside.
It’s the burden they carried,
they usually carried it with satisfaction.
Vacancy and sorrow,
ache and loss.
It’s the burden they carry.
The insufferable price.
They swore an oath
to assist and defend.
It’s the burden they carried
to the very finish.
Wheeling the outdated warriors
off the Honor Flight aircraft
with flags and banners,
folks calling their names.
From Fallujah to Khe Sanh,
from V-E to V-J,
in any case these years
in the present day was their day.
A younger little one waved
because the outdated males handed.
Residence to a hero’s welcome.
Residence eventually.
It’s a burden they carry
for a day like in the present day.
It’s a hallowed value
that they gladly pay.
However to those that carry
the best burden of all,
for his or her family members who by no means
got here house—
Might God be with you
and allow you to know,
you’ll by no means carry that burden
alone.
