There once was a young boy, age ten, Who walked the fields of Arlington, When he had an encounter that day, Which made him uneasy, I'd have to say.
There was a coffin, of course, no doubt about that, But what made the boy uneasy was this simple fact, That no family was anywhere to be seen, To place a rose upon the coffin, polished and clean.
"You sir, digging this man's grave, why is there no family to honor the brave? Not a single soul here to honor this man, Who gave his life for me, for you and every American."
The man stood up and started to cry, As he turned to the boy and gave his reply, A reply that was chilling and stayed in his mind, And made him feel so foolish and blind.
"Have a look there at that cross, for there it is shown, That this soldier here bears the name of 'unknown.' And his family, with his wife he just recently married, Have no idea that their soldier is here, being buried."
As the sun set over that cross-ridden land, The man and the boy kneeled there hand-in-hand, And prayed together over that cross made of stone, To give thanks to that soldier who bears the name of 'unknown'. |