Oh say can you see

 The graves lining up day by day,

Of thousands of men and women who decided to lay

Their lives down together for the ultimate sacrifice?

Who gave up everything so that the land of the free, can stay of the free, because of the brave.

 

Oh say can you see 

The stars on the flag, so white and pure?

They stand for the fifty states, but I think

They stand for a bit more;

For those soldiers who made it.

Who made it back home 

To their family, their life, not unaffected.

And some feel like they’re walking in a shadow of what used to be 

a family, but all they see is their

friends over seas still fighting for the land of the free.

 

Oh yes, I can see.

 

I see justice in blue, and valor in red, but what I don’t see are the soldiers that are dead.

Either six feet under, or trapped in their own head;

Sometimes wishing that they were dead instead.

Attacked every night while you lie in bed. 

Attacked by the demons inside their head.

Watching the unforgettable pictures of their lives that flashed before 

Their eyes as they thought they would die.

They play superman and fight them off to live another day

And keep that mask on for one more day.

 

Oh yes, I can see.

 

I can see women, men and children sitting there by a phone 

Waiting for the call that says:

"You’re not alone."

"I’m right here beside you."

"I’m here, and I love you."

"I’ll be back soon. I promise."

"We’re almost done here."

 

Oh yes, I can see. 

 

I see a little boy who went to the beaches of Normandy on the seventieth anniversary of

D-Day and stood at attention for an hour and a half, not wavering when the tide came in.

Not wavering when he thought of the way they achieved that win.

How gallons of blood were shed for that one day where everyone cheered

And that was all you could hear:

Was happiness,

And laughter.

Laughter because it was over.

 

Oh yes, I can see.

 

I can see my family joining the ranks, 

In the Marines, the Army, Air Force, and Navy.

Leaving their families behind so that they could live without the fear

Of the possibility of a gun being pressed to your head by the government

that was supposed to be 

Of the people,

For the people,

By the people.

 

And I know these words to be true

Because I bleed red, white, and blue.

 

What about you?