Veterans' Day Tribute

We're All Under The Same Flag

High on a pole, flying in the breeze;

All across the country, Even overseas.

The symbol of our nation waves strong and proud.

Freedom’s silent message is ringing clear and loud.

America the beautiful, My country ‘tis of thee.

A simple colored flag says “I’m proud to be free!”

The Diverseness of our nation has been tested time and time;

But the strength of our Country raises no doubt in my mind. 

We're all under the same flag.




Waving in the front yard of a white picket fence;

A minivan and yellow lab, sparing no expense.

A foreigner’s dream, now a citizen’s life.

Heading to the game with his daughter, son and wife.

One road over, one more man, Just trying to get by.

Times are tough and jobs are scarce but he’ll never cease to try.

With a head to think and a will to work he pulls on his other boot.

He then pins on that medal and gives those stripes a salute.

We're all under the same flag.







Working in the field, harvesting the hay;

The farmer wipes his brow and signals it a day.

With a wife at home to greet him and a son to call tonight,

There’s promise of some biscuits and trust that all is right.

Living cities away, running fingers through his hair,

Looking over plans, fighting off despair,

He’s going toward his dream, although afraid to speak too loud,

He picks up the picture and says “Dad, I’ll make you proud.”

We're all under the same flag.




Living in a duplex, way down in the south,

She combs her hair and scrutinizes the features ‘round her mouth.

Her skin’s darker hue would at one point cause dismay,

She’s just thankful for a time where all have equal say.

One door down, her neighbor girl, was applying makeup too.

It was voting day and she was ready to go shell out her view.

With progress made in recent years, she could live out her goal.

In a quick glance out the window she nodded toward the pole.

We're all under the same flag.



Answering the phone, he finally had a break.

He’d lost count of the hours that he’d had to stay awake.

7 months into deployment, with no limit to near-harm;

He treasured talking with his parents, hearing of the farm.

A few cots down, another man would not give in to rest.

He’d climbed up in the ranks just by giving it his best.

Not a native to this country, but now he fought her cause.

At the soonest chance he’d joined her fight without the slightest pause.

We're all under the same flag.







Our Nation's Capitol, peak of fall, she wheels over to the stand. 

She picks up the well-loved picture as best with her good hand. 

She smiles with the memory of his returning home that May. 

With uniform and duffel he was finally home to stay. 

In Arlington, that very day, a mother, too, recalled. 

She stood over her baby's grave and with silent tears she bawled. 

She rubbed her baby's final bed, only wishing he'd have stayed. 

As she turned away she'd wrinkled where the flag on top was laid. 

We're all under the same flag. 




You see, my friends, it doesn't matter what stage of life you're in. 

It doesn't matter what you look like or what you're past has been.

This Nation is "One Under God". We all are like that way. 

But it's not about that Nation when we commemorate today. 

It's about the people, young and old whom have given up so much. 

Whom have sacrificed their lives just to keep this land untouched. 

It's about the stories. About the lives. About the pain and fears. 

It's about the joy and victory. About the unshed tears. 

It's about the heroes, big and small, that have fought the biggest fight. 


The ones who gave it all so you could sleep in peace tonight. 

It's about the men. It's about the women. Those that gave and give some more.  





The veterans. The ones on guard. Those currently on tour.
 





So black and white and red and tan; guys and girls the same. 






In your prayers this very night, lift up a hero's name. 






So, Put aside your feeble fights. There's nothing worth a brag. 






Remember: we're all made by God and all under the same flag.