The Men Who Choose To Serve

There is no wall to demarcate

Between dark and the light.

The line is drawn between the wrong

and all we know that’s right

with courage and with fortitude

and faith that will not swerve

by men who stand upon the line.

The men who choose to serve.

 

Freedom’s price is dearly paid,

Then paid and paid again,

by children and by lonely wives

and by those loyal men.

They hold, with flesh and blood and steel

and sometimes with raw nerve,

a line of hope against despair.

The men who choose to serve.

 

We sleep in peace, we pray in faith,

we work without the fear

that those who seek to do us harm

can ever draw too near

because they keep their faith with us,

with strength and calm reserve,

the men who stand upon the line.

The men who choose to serve.

 

We owe them more than we can pay

And yet no price is asked

Except for someplace safe to rest

When they’ve laid down the task.

For they know other brave young men,

will step up to the mark

and carry on the task for them,

the fight against the dark.

We owe them more than platitudes

for the price they have paid.

We owe them more than gratitude

for sacrifices made.

We long to, but can’t give full due

of all that they deserve,

we owe too much to all of them,

The men who choose to serve.