Through a child’s eyes, they saw the glory;

The medals and stars, shining like beacons in the night.

Through a child’s eyes, they saw the power;

The tanks chewing up ground, cold metal monsters.

Through a child’s eyes, they saw heroes;

The few, the strong, the proud.

Through a child’s eyes, they saw the world;

The blues, the greens, so clean and pure.

But when they arrived, they no longer saw through the eyes of a child.

Through a man’s eyes, they saw the destruction;

The death of men and futile dreams.

Through a man’s eyes, they saw the pain;

Pleading men, begging for death, sobbing women, praying for mercy.

Through a man’s eyes, they saw the villains;

Colors blurring, world spinning, the mud pulling them forever down.

Through a man’s eyes, they saw their lives;

So close to ending, living only for the next moment, living only by the breath they drew.

Through a man’s eyes, they saw the truth:

We were not there, and now fall only empty tears.

Through blood and hell, through pain and war, they went.

For our freedom.

For our lives.