Veteran’s Week in Branson, Missouri starts today and culminates on Veteran’s Day next Monday!

This is one of the largest and longest running veteran’s celebrations in the entire country. Veterans and their friends and families come from far and wide to share stories, enjoy the spirit of patriotism and to be honored by Branson, where God, family and country are still alive and well!

For over two decades as our family performed our stage show in Branson, this was our favorite time of the year. It was such a privilege to meet so many veterans and to be part of honoring their service. Our veteran’s tribute “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” became a very special tradition for us. As we looked out into the faces of the veterans in our audience, we could not help but be overcome with gratitude for the sacrifices they made to defend and preserve our freedoms. On many days we saw tears in their eyes and we could not hold back our own.

Honestly, I cherish and miss those days. Each morning, I looked forward to walking to the center of our stage and reciting my poem, “I Am a Veteran” – a poem that was inspired by the men and women we met every single day at our show. Each day as I stood before them, I could feel that there were so many untold stories and so many unexpressed emotions. It was deeply gratifying to connect with these veterans and their families through the power of poetry. The greatest compliment I ever received was that my poem gave words to their feelings. I was always so humbled by that.

As I am here by myself typing this message this morning, I still have the desire to share my poem during Veteran’s Week, so you will find it below.  Please know that it is full of so much love, appreciation, honor and respect. This poem has connected me to some of the finest people in the world and I will be forever grateful for that.

Please feel free to share it with any veterans you know as an expression of thanks for their service.

Happy Veteran’s Week, everyone!

 

Thank you,

and love,

Andrea Brett

 

 

I Am a Veteran

 

You may not know me the first time we meet

I’m just another you see on the street

But I am the reason you walk and breathe free

 I am the reason for your liberty

 

I AM A VETERAN

 

I work in the local factory all day

I own the restaurant just down the way

I sell you insurance, I start your IV

I’ve got the best-looking grandkids you’ll ever see

 

I’m your grocer, your banker

Your child’s schoolteacher

I’m your plumber, your barber

Your family’s preacher

But there’s part of me you don’t know very well

Just listen a moment, I’ve a story to tell

 

I AM A VETERAN

 

I joined the service while still in my teens

I traded my prom dress for camouflage greens

I’m the first in my family to do something like this

I followed my father, like he followed his

 

Defying my fears and hiding my doubt

I married my sweetheart before I shipped out

I missed Christmas, then Easter

The birth of my son

But I knew I was doing what had to be done

 

I served on the battlefront, I served on the base

I bound up the wounded

And begged for God’s grace

I gave orders to fire, I followed commands

I marched into conflict in far distant lands

 

In the jungle, the desert, on mountains and shores

In bunkers, in tents, on dank earthen floors

While I fought on the ground, in the air, on the sea

My family and friends were home praying for me

 

For the land of the free and the home of the brave

I faced my demons in foxholes and caves

Then one dreaded day, without drummer or fife

I lost an arm, my buddy lost his life

 

I came home and moved on

But forever was changed

The perils of war in my memory remained

I don’t really say much, I don’t feel like I can

But I left home a child, and came home a man

 

There are thousands like me

Thousands more who are gone

But their legacy lives as time marches on

White crosses in rows

And names carved in queue

Remind us of what these brave souls had to do

 

I’m part of a fellowship, a strong mighty band

Of each man and each woman

Who has served this great land

And when Old Glory waves

I stand proud, I stand tall

I helped keep her flying over you, over all

 

I AM A VETERAN

 

 

 

Copyright Andrea C. Brett – All rights reserved

For permission to use, call 877-252-7388

Poem now available as a hard cover coffee table book