Who They Were ©©

Out of the darkness march the shadows of men

Faceless, nameless, foreign to those in need of salvation

Their cadence tapping out a hymn for those who defended freedom

And shed a tear for those who have nothing left but fear

Who are these faceless shadows?

These nameless specters who walk out of oceans, fall from the skies

Climb out from the fires of hell always smiling

Sometimes dieing

They dress like Brits but look like Yanks

Some smell like the French but swear more

They drink more than Aussies

And fight like demons

Most are White

While others were Black and some Yellow

Their faces were young

With no fear in their eyes

Some said they were Maritimers

Yet others were from the prairies

There were Quebecers and some called Newfoundlanders

But they all wore the same uniform

Out of the mists they marched

Bagpipes calling across the bog

Telling those on the other side

Their time has come so they better run

Across bloody fields

Over the backs of the dead

The shadows lead the way to the finish line

They march, they fall, they go on

When the guns of November go silent

The shadows wither away

They carry off their dead without a word

Just a prayer

Who were those nameless shadows?

The ones who came

Those who paid the dearest price for someone else’s freedom

Where did they go when the guns went silent

We will remember those who went to foreign lands to fight

We will embrace those who come home

Honor those who lay down on foreign ground

Still wearing the same smiles they shared

We will remember their sacrifice.

Lest We Forget

Walker