The old guard has laid down their arms,
Their fighting days are done
They’ve manned the towers, sounded the alarm
Now they ride to the setting sun
The war is not over, battles need to be fought
Of this you can be sure
But hand they must, their swords to us…
And the ground they did secure
The veterans in this fight, who stayed through the night
When the rockets glowed red in the sky
Turn back they would not, they struggled and fought…
To surrender…they would much rather die
The old guard with their boots, and their helmets of steel
Their uniforms tattered and spent
“Fight on boys-you must still fight on!”
Their voices in harmony lent
As the last of their strength was exhausted and gone
The endeavor so noble its cause
Never a doubt was thought in their mind
To waver to give up or pause
I take the sword from the man as he goes
Its weight feels heavy to me
If he fought…then so too can I
So others as well can live free
Now youngster…you bring up the rear!
And don’t let us get surprised from the side
I’ll follow the footsteps…of the great men before
And we’ll honor the way that they died
This war that we’re in-so noble its cause
Our General so valiant and true
Bids us fight on, till one day we see
That our own setting sun is in view
Rest then we will, with the great soldiers past
And true peace will last and will last!
Thanks we will say, to the faithful old guard…
Who’s feet in the battle stood fast
David Kettler, 12/14/14
I wrote this right after writing "Mountain of a Man" for T.C. Morris. I mentioned in a phone conversation to mom that "we are losing the old guard, one by one!" She said, "hey, that sounds like a poem!"
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