I saw an old man,
Leaning on a cane,
His shoulders slumped,
His hair white and thin.

The old man changed before my eyes
He stood tall and proud,
Placed his hand over his heart,
And then began to cry.

Why did he have to get so emotional?
Why did he have to cry?
After all,
Its just a flag passing by.

Suddenly, as if through his eyes
I saw a soldier, Strong, brave and true,
As he kissed his bride, she said,
"I'll wait for you."

I saw a battlefield,
Bombs and bullets filled the air
I heard the screams of pain,
The silence of the dead.

And then I stood beside a sailor
In the middle of a storm tossed sea
He stood his watch through the night
Protecting you and me.

I stood a little straighter,
I held my head up high,
I realized why it was,
That old men cry
When the Flag passes by.
As the Flag passed by
by:
R Casteel