I remember halloween in 1987.
You were my little man dressed up like G. I. Joe, back then.
How was I to ever guess the goblins would be real,
and you would earn your stripes and wear a helmet made of steel?

You looked so cool in camoflauge, and held your gun just right.
I often laughed when looking at the the pictures from that night.
But I find nothing funny now, with you so far away,
fighting with an enemy who will not show his face.

I remember summer nights and balmy starlit skies,
and the sound of your voice laughing, chasing little fireflies.
My little boy became a man, a U.S. Army soldier,
you hold the world in your hands and carry it on your shoulder.

I see years of history when I look into your eyes,
of men who fell before you, on the land, the seas and sky.
Their sacrifice has given us all that we hold dear,
a life of precious freedom from everything we fear.

Today the battle rages on between what's good and evil,
and men like you must stand your ground or we will face the devil.
And those who choose to close their eyes are fortunate indeed,
to have our military men to stand and take the lead.

As long as there is tyranny, injustice and cold terror,
the need to stand and act on our beliefs will always be there.
Freedom is expensive, and yet life without is worthless.
We owe a debt of high respect for those who will protect us.

This world is filled with wonder and I wonder how it is
that we don't learn from history, and all we know is this:
when people cannot live in peace and fill their hearts with hate,
we spill the blood of those we love until, it's just too late.

Little boys grow up so fast; too soon, become grown men.
They leave the comforts of their homes to fight, once more, again.
When will there be an end to all the suffering and strife,
So little boys can just grow up and simply live their life?

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