Once a Marine, Always a Marine, Forever My Son

Your uniforms are all Lined up in order I noticed the blood stripe that had been added Along time ago I heard your medals clinking together As you tucked them all away I stepped back in time You once stood On yellow footprints of those before you Chaos surrounding your new world A flashing moment's thought, “What have I done?” Went through your mind In 13 weeks you were broken down Rebuilt back up As a United States Marine 30 days of field training Never ending Rolling into years Deployment Seeing the world Seeing more then you will ever say 4 years ago on top of the Reaper The Eagle, Globe and Anchor Was placed in your hand Forever in your heart Today you stepped off those footprints You have been following While serving our Country Taking a step forward into the civilian world Creating your own footprints Each step of the way You wear no medals Nothing shouting “I am a Marine” But anyone can see From the way you stand Taking in your surroundings The manner in which you hold yourself Prepared to face any challenges ahead My simple word to you my son Remain the same as the as the day you first left “Spread your wings and soar, never let anything stop you on your life’s journey. If ever in doubt look to the sky as the Eagle circles above Letting you see the possibilities ahead of you.” You are now a United States Marine Veteran Your heartbeats Once a Marine, Always a Marine My heart beats Once my Son, Always my Son. Jennifer Kiesling (c)2017