HE WOULD RAISE THE FLAG

An American, a patriot who did fight many battles,

His time spent in a prisoner of war camp was not pretty.

Doing that which he believed to be right was a high price,

A disgrace to his uniform but a man of principles and honor.

They could not break him, he would not crumble and fall,

He was not now less than who he was before, a man of strength.

He would speak of his rights, the rights of other prisoners,

He wanted to raise the flag, men would join him in his plight.

He would raise the flag and pay the ultimate price for the right,

Shot in the back, he died while the flag was high in flight.

Keith Garrett