This is a poem by Autumn Gibson, a Nordonia High School student, about how she felt while attending the Nordonia High School Veteran’s Day Celebration/Ceremony.
We piled into the packed gym
We all clapped when they came in
They walked to their assigned places
They saluted with stern faces
There had to be about 60 soldiers
Most were 60 years or older
There were four speeches spoke that day
One staff, one student, and two soldiers paved the way
When they spoke of the soldiers missing in action
Tears were many of the veterans automatic reactions
I had sympathy but I couldn’t empathize
When they folded the flag my heart started to realize
As we all stood and the trumpet sounded
I heard 21 shots made by the beat my heart pounded
With every shot another tear dropped off my face
These were the cries made for memories that cannot be erased
I realized that there were more scars than what could be seen
I saw the scars on the hearts of the men and women who stood before me
On the eleventh day of the eleventh month I felt their pain
I didn’t even need to know their names
