I Answered the Call           

By Donald E. Allen

       

I answered the call of freedom at Bunker Hill,

I froze half to death at Valley Forge.

I gave every ounce of blood and sweat in Viet Nam,

I took a mini-ball in the knee at Stones River Gorge.

I had my lungs burned out by German mustard gas,

I suffered the Bataan death march in the Philippines.

I held on for dear life at the Pusan perimeter,

I stood with Andy Jackson at New Orleans.

I’m fighting now in Eastern lands,

Their languages I do not speak.

On my shoulder is the flag of the USA,

I have an honored tradition to keep.

My name … it does not matter,

But I’ll tell you who I am anyway.

I am every American Veteran,

And November 11^th, is MY day!