We remember those who have died
But forget those who survived
The ones who fought for our freedom
And lost more than just their lives
For when they came home
They got a hero’s welcome, and then—
Nothing
***
They are rotting in the streets
While we celebrate the lives of the fallen
With free-flowing alcohol, barbecues,
And merchandise sales a-plenty
We wave our plastic flags at them
Give them a drink, invite them in for a while
But where do they have to go afterwards
When we tell them that it’s time to go home?
***
They are our brave, our injured
The ones who sacrificed everything
For us to see another day
And how do we thank them?
How do we honor them?
With 10% off for one day, a boozy smile,
And then we turn them away
When they really need us
As medical bills mount
And they reach out to say—
“Help me, please!”
***
Reach a hand back
And pull them up out of the muck
Be their hero today
One small act of kindness
Could save a savior
About the Creator
Stephanie Hoogstad
With a BA in English and MSc in Creative Writing, writing is my life. I have edited and ghost written for years with some published stories and poems of my own.
Learn more about me: thewritersscrapbin.com
Support my writing: Patreon
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