A Walk Up Crazy Horse by Russ Dowden
580, 04 Jul 2012It is not unusual for an active duty military or veteran of service past to be stopped by someone unknown to them and offered the comment, "Thanks for your service." Most of those, I think, come from the heart. Some, though, stick in the mind more than others and for Vietnam vets it is a welcome, very welcome comment. Such was the case on a recent trip to SD and a visit to Crazy Horse monument with two other old soldiers - Jerry Heard and Bill Hill and our wives. I wrote the following free verse to help me recall the day and the young man forever:
A Walk Up Crazy Horse
I walked to the top of Crazy Horse today,
And the view was beyond belief.
But it was what happened on the way up and down,
That really made the day.
Three old soldiers in black baseball caps,
Caps showing what they had once done.
In retrospect the caps singled them out,
Set them apart in the crowd of visitors this day.
Perhaps that uniqueness should have been recognized earlier,
But what I saw was just three old friends enjoying a perfect day.
What others saw were three old veterans who stood out in the crowd,
Three old soldiers once young, now aged and turned toward shades of grey.
Each had been young soldiers once and at war in Vietnam,
It is that story our hats did tell.
Combat veterans returned home from the war,
The war that brought America such pain.
But on this day no pain was felt,
Not a single sneer, no spit, no screams.
The very opposite, in fact, became the norm,
Young and old recognized three old men and gave them a “Welcome Home.”
Some said, “Thanks for your service.”
Some said nothing at all.
But on every face that dared to look,
Was seen a respect for what had long ago been done.
For all those brothers and sisters, too, who fought that jungle war,
It can easily be said to each and every one,
American’s now offer all a hearty “Welcome Home.”
It is not just a slogan anymore, once only shared by Vietnam vets.
That greeting is abundant now.
Though many still suffer stress and mental pain,
They should know Americans now care.
America now sees the service they gave and offers a “Welcome Home.”
Of all the people who spoke that day,
Alone stands one young man.
Of an age not much more than perhaps seventeen,
His words came from his heart.
He asked if I would stop for a moment,
Stop to have his photo made with me and my old soldier friends.
But it was the words he choose to speak
That make this trip live on.
From this young man, in his blue jeans and tee,
Came the words that mean so much.
“Thank you, sir,” he said, “Thank you for your service.”
Not an uncommon comment for a veteran’s ears.
What made it different, even special, yes, was it came from one so young,
And then there were his parting words,
What he said as he went on his way,
“Thanks, sir, for giving me what it is I have today.”
While soldiers struggle far from home,
While they still bleed, and hurt, and die,
It is a comment from a man so young,
That would let them all know – Yes, what they do is right.
rhd
(if you wish to post a comment on this bulletin, please log in)