I received a nice email from Robert Potrykus, a Navy veteran of the Cold War, Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He was recalled during the Iraq war to MIUWU 214 for Security duty in Sicily, and is now a disabled vet. In his note, he included a poem he wrote, and I would like to share it with you.
The Only Reason We Live in the Land of the Free
Is Because of the Brave that Died for our Country
Outnumbered and out experienced
Farmers with pitchforks died with dignity
Fighting for this country, wanting to be free
From the king of England, and his treachery
They freed us from the English rule
So we could start a country brand new
We fought the majestic red coats
Victory we won and to that we can boast
Then all of a sudden down in Mexico
Santa Anna and his men wanted control
Came to Texas and surrounded his foe
Many brave men died at the Alamo
In the 1860’s the south went wild
Just like an ignored step child
And with the lives of fathers and son
The land of the free had really begun
The north and south fought a hard fight
Fought the civil war with all their might
Both sides thinking they were right
Ending slavery was the result of their plight
The only reason we live in the land of the free
Is because of the brave that died for their country
We shed our life’s blood for all the world to see
We are the land of the brave, and the home of the free
World wars one and two came before anyone knew
That Hitler had stirred up a witches’ brew
In those wars, thousands of men had died
With other nations’ brothers fighting side by side
From Korea, Vietnam, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iraq
We held the world on our backs
Providing the strength and courage other countries lacked
Shedding our own blood while being attacked
This poem is written in the honor of Van T. Barfoot
Who received the Medal of Honor of his country
For bravery under fire, he fought very gallantly
For him we live in the land of the free, because of the brave.
