The Veteran’s Child
My folks met before I was born, they served our nations’ cause
Down through generations, our loyalty did not pause
They seemed to be so busy, always on the run
Then one day I showed up, so they must have had time for fun
My pop served in Vietnam, but brought back so much pain
I still see his tortured face, during the Last Post’s sad refrain
Now I wear his medals, standing by my parent’s side
We all march together, with such a saddened pride
I’ve lived in so many towns and when each posting ends
We are packed and moving, so I’ll have to find new friends
Different schools and uniforms, we’ve been through this before
If the military had have wanted kids, they’d have issued them from store
Each Christmas saw a party, with Santa and good cheer
Then the bins were emptied and that’s that for another year
Do the big shots realise, before our parents went out to roam
They would not be in the service, but for the support they got at home
When little Freddie lost his dad, some said it was just fate
But I still see his tragic form, waiting by the gate
And the empty words that people said, like “We know how you feel”
But there are just some wounds in life, that will never ever heal
Now mum has to go overseas, to keep the children free
I just wish that she’d stay here and just look after me
When she comes back, it’s dads turn and he’ll be on his way
A cycle of deployments, that’s the way it is today
I’m proud of what my parents do, but it’s still tinged with regret
For in spite of short lived glory, people soon forget
When it comes to policies, I don’t have a voice
It’s an honour to be a veteran’s child, but then again I had no choice
By Tomas ‘Paddy’ Hamilton
20 December 2018
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FILE PHOTO: Private Kieren Morrissey, deployed with Force Protection Element 10 on Operation Highroad in Kabul, Afghanistan, holds a photo of his children Aria and Sloane, on Father’s Day 2018. Photo by Petty Officer Andrew Daken.
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