Veterans Day is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served so AMERiders offers up our Tribute to the Men and Women of Our US Military. For one glorious day, you are joined by everyone else around the nation who doesn’t spend every waking moment breathing this military stuff like you do. For one day, we stand united in respect for our veterans. At AMERiders we wanted to find something that says yes we know what you are going through and we understand. When we found this poem we knew that it was perfect for our tribute to the troops.
Can you see me?
by Pamela Merchant
(Edgewater, Florida)
I see you, but you can’t see me,
These wounds of war won’t let me be
If only you knew what this war has done
Always on guard, trying to find my gun!
Always worrying, always in fear
What was that? What’s that over there?
Did you hear that whistle? Oh, it’s just his breaks…
Did you hear that boom? That one gave me the shakes…
Do you see that, the trash in the road?
Oh God, please don’t let it explode….
You are scared that I may lose it, I’m unstable and crazy
But the real problem is you’re the one that is stupid and lazy.
If you read the research and checked the facts
You will find that it is you, not I, which lacks.
I have been trained; I’m a well-oiled machine,
But look at you so proper and clean.
I’m a byproduct of death and destruction, I have stared it in the face
I have killed and watched people die; what a shameful disgrace.
I have held my friend’s hand because that was all that was left
I have fought and bled, I have cried and I have wept
So NOW you see me for the person I am, the person I was forced to become.
Yes, I volunteered to serve my country; the call to duty is only for some.
I did not ask for the disgust in your eyes when you see me on the street
I did not fight and lose people so you can stomp our flag with your feet.
I did not ask for the TBI or the PTSD that has begun to ruin my life
I never asked for this to affect me, my kids or my spouse.
All I ask is for a little understanding, for people to educate themselves
To understand that my reactions have become hardwired, I can’t always control myself.
I have survived the worst mankind can throw at a person and have done it with my mouth shut.
The fireworks you shoot to celebrate this countries freedom are the same shots I hear in my dreams at night
I left the war, why must I continue to fight this fight?
So,On this Veterans Day, AMERiders asks you to spread the word. Let’s remember the efforts of our proud and strong Veterans for they bravely struggled to achieve our country’s liberty and freedom.
“Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause.” – Abraham Lincoln
As we are honoring our Veterans when you order anything over $20.00 at AMERiders you will get a 20% storewide discount from November 11th-13th, 2016 if the code Freedom is used. (Please note that this code will not be available for use until the 11th and will not work after the 13th.
For your unselfish efforts…
For serving our country selflessly…
We salute YOU!
Happy Veterans Day!
~AMERiders
and
AMERiders supports our troops and Honors our Veterans this Veterans Day.
And as always don’t forget to send us your stories, pictures and events for posting to GALLERY.AMERIDERS @ GMAIL.COM and we will post them for you. The more people that know about your event the better and we are offering free advertising. We would also love to hear about your rides and love to see those bikes so send those stories and pictures.
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Note: This is not Pamela Merchant’s original poem it has been altered to relate to our brothers and sisters as well as the current and recent wars.