Memorial Day

It's Memorial Day
In preparation
The hardware store
Gave little flags away
I see a lot of men
Getting ready to celebrate
dressed like Special ops
With their long beards
Black sunglasses
Tight t-shirts with
White american flags
On their sleeves
Baseball caps on their
Shaven heads with
Bursting shopping bags
Fitted elastic pants
Some with girlfriends
Some with young wives
Carrying a child
Some annoyed
Some full of smiles
Years ago I was 
wearing a t-shirt like them
With a big flag printed
Dead center on my chest
And I remember how
Good it felt
It was a different me
A different time
A different America
That fit me best
Today while I carry the same
Sentiments towards 
Those who served
Those who never came home
And towards those who are
Still going to fight
Wars no longer noble
I think about those who
Are trying to forget the
horror they lived and the friends they left
among the rubbles