Heroes

by Janet Aldrich
(Euclid, Ohio)

They were called to duty
and they answered.
When asked to pay
the price they paid.
Simple men become heroes
and stood to guard us.
Turned backs on home and family
became soldiers, unafraid

Sepia images, young men
Caught forever in a moment.
The pictures age
But they did not.
No tomorrow, only now
and then forgotten.
We are free today
because they went.