In honor of Veteran's Day today, this is a short songfic to honor those who fought, and those who died. The song is called Fallen, Not Forgotten by Ray Boltz.

I know that many have differing opinions about war, especially about the current situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, etc. But I think that no matter what one feels about the current war or war in general, we can all lay aside our feelings and honor those who fight, those who are wounded and those who have died. So no matter what your personal opinions are, I hope you enjoy this piece and will remember today those who put on the uniform to defend our country.

Parker stood next to his father as a group of flag-bearers marched slowly by. Bagpipes blared in the distance and drums played out a rhythmic rat-a-tat. People lining the sidewalks waved small American flags and clapped as the groups made their way down the road. The mid-November air was nippy but not too cold yet. People of all ages stood along the street, from the youngest child to the elder folk, many veterans themselves.

He stood beside his daddy

And watched the soldiers marching by

It was Veteran's Day and he wondered

Why there were tears in Daddy's eyes

Later they laid flowers

Beside a monument of stone

He said "Son, my daddy went to fight

And didn't make it home."

Tears filled the elder Booth's eyes as he watched the parade, his mind seeing not those on the street but those he had lost over the years. Men like Teddy Parker, cut down so early in life, barely even old enough to be called men.

Fallen, not forgotten

He was a hero

He stood so tall

And forever we will remember

With honor and glory

He gave his all

Every one of his fallen comrades stood tall to the very end. They fought for their country, the land they loved so much. They were proud and honored to fight for their country and were willing to die for her. They gave their time, their sweat, their tears, their blood, their lives, their all.

They left behind their families

And the towns where they were born

For the rice paddies of Vietnam

And the sands of Desert Storm

They were soldiers in Korea

In World War I and World War II

They paid the price

Some gave their lives

And they fought for me and you.

Looking around Booth saw veterans of so many wars-Vietnam, Korea, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan, even a few aged World War II veterans. So many generations, so many battles, so many fallen.

Fallen, not forgotten

They were the heroes

They stood so tall

And forever we will remember

With honor and glory

They gave their all

Each man and woman who fought was a hero. They gave something great of themselves for the good of others.

Freedom is a blessing

But freedom has a price

We must remember those

Who paid it with their lives

(We will remember their lives)

So often people take freedom for granted; they seem to forget that the freedom they so greatly enjoy every day, the peace they know at night that allows them to sleep is because brave men and women paid the price for them. Some never made it home; others returned only to live the rest of their lives haunted by the faces of the lost. Their duty: protect and defend the United States. Our duty: honor and remember them.

Remember the fallen

They're not forgotten

They were the heroes

They stood so tall

And forever

We will remember

With honor and glory

HONOR: privilege, integrity.

With honor and glory

GLORY: praise, exaltation.

With honor and glory

They gave their all.

Booth looked down at his son and saw the boy's arm raised in a salute. A tearful smile appeared and he raised his own hand to his brow. As the parade came to an end Parker looked up at his father.

"Dad, you're a veteran, right?"

"Yeah, bub. I am."

Parker grabbed his dad's hand and smiled. "Thank you, Dad."