Letter to The Old Guard

By Sgt. Brian K. ParkerJune 16, 2009

(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The below message was sent to The Old Guard Public Affairs Office:

I met some of the Old Guard on my way to work this morning and felt compelled to write this poem.

I retired in 1997 and my son is with the 1/36 at Ft. Bliss with a tour in Iraq and headed back again.

Take care of the guys!!

LTC Charles M. Herbek

US Army (Ret).

Guardians of the Realm!

They came before me this morning

These guardians of the realm

Each man resplendent in the early morning light

Their battle uniforms at peace this day

At least in the place we stood

A journey lay before them

This but a ration stop along the way

Quick smoke and coffee

And then a return to guard our honored dead

Amidst the gardens of marble

Could not help but speak to them

Who stand now where I once stood

Who carry now the righteous burden of protecting the realm

As I once did, ages past

Yet theirs is so much greater now

Has anyone told you yet today that you do a good job'

No, Sir, not yet

Well you do

We spoke shortly of service present and service past'

And these guardians thanked me for mine

I did not expect their words of praise

But simply chose to give that to them

Five guardians and a Leader at the helm

They are so precious, so strong, so willing

They are the best of us

Of that, let there be no doubt

Willing to stand before the forces of chaos

And stare down the flames

Many times trading their life for ours

And their future, in a moment gone, yet ours remains'

And so many that do return bare the scars of some fateful day

In a land so far from the realm they guard

They came before me this day

These guardians of the realm

And we parted in the early morning light

Me to cherish that which they guard

And they to stand again

Throughout the night watch

There is no praise that reaches their sacrifice

No real words of comfort for those they may leave behind

Yet, what must always be there for them

Is our unfailing faith

In them, and the cause they serve so well

These guardians of our realm