Courage

Red. What a wonderful color. It can symbolize so many things. You can see red if you're angry. It frequently means danger of some kind, often deadly. Red can stand for strength or courage, an incredible sunrise or sunset or simply a color, warm and inviting. Today, it makes me think of our servicemen and women, who frequently shed their blood in the service of our country, protecting the freedom and life we hold dear. So I dedicate this effort to them and to my Dad. My father was a member of the Army/Air force (before the Air force was a separate entity). He worked hard with both the American Legion and the VFW,getting as far as SR Vice Commander with the VFW, as well as being "Seam Squirrel" for the Cooties, who were responsible for bringing a little good to those of the Armed Forces in the hospital. He also was a proud member of the Oxford Color Guard, who stood for our nation at the funerals of those who have been a part of the military. Our family worked together to put out the VFW Post newsletter for many years. If any man's blood ran red, white and blue, it was surely his.


All For One

They stand at the front lines, holding back
The enemy who would take
From us what they lack.
To keep our lives and freedom,
They risk theirs every day.
For God and country,
Those at work and at play.
I therefore state,
And you know that it's true,
Our servicemen's blood
Runs red, white and blue.

The enemy dares to attack us here
With planes and death.
They should shake in fear., for we immediately send
Our finest and best women and men.
When put to the test, they'll show
What we already knew.
Our servicemen's blood
Runs red, white and blue.

Marines hit the beaches or land where they may.
Landing in secret or with guns blazing away.
Each yard of ground gained makes it easier for
The ones coming behind them.
Though vision be poor or sharp as a knife.
Under hot blazing sun or the dark of night.
It is true that they are a relentless crew.
Our marine's blood
Runs red, white and blue.

The army has long been the backbone of
The troops that we send far from the ones that they love.
They take incredible risks to advance our cause,
Even though bombs and guns may make them pause..
They fight ever onward, a valiant crew.
Our soldier's blood
Runs red, white and blue.

The navy does fight both above and below
The oceans and seas.
Captains know where to go to find the enemy,
Their courses to slow.
They fight ship to ship and from sea to land
From the ocean to sky missiles leave blazing brands.
According to all that we hold true,
Our sailor's blood
Run red, white and blue.

Now to the air force we surely must fly.
It is their job to protect from the sky.
With dogfights and bombing runs
They work hard to defend the American dream
From beginning to end of their flight it is sure
They'll fight their hardest to keep all secure
The pilots and ground crews, we know through and through.
Our air force's blood
Runs red, white and blue.

We must also not forget our medical crews.
The doctors and nurses and corpsmen too.
They work hard to repair the damage done to our troops.
Often under fire themselves, jumping through hoops,
To maintain a balance between life and death.
And that is positive proof that in their veins too,
Blood runs with the colors of red, white and blue.