"There Are No Flags on Memorials"

There are no flags on Memorial Day
and there were none when they died
Lost in some godforsaken battlefield
where all their strength was tried

There was no chance that one could make it
and he gave everything he had
but he was so much outnumbered
he never had a chance

There are many in the service
and many who do not fight
but work to support the others
as they try to survive the night
They may not even see it
and some say you never do
but in a flash it's over
and that's the end of you

He had no flag when we lost him
and he doesn't need one now
He fought so no more brothers
would ever have to go
to endure these things he suffered
seeing things you should never see
but such was the measure of his giving
to keep all others free

I make no claim of valor
but I was there and saw it all
It's not about some airy values
but trying to survive
and for those who didn't make it
We salute and shed a tear
since the thing you gave to all of us
is the thing you always feared

- Some asshole with an Honorable Discharge

My deepest respect to all who were lost.