DECORATION

Copyright. 12/31/09
DECORATION.

The light hum of discreet conversation from the elegant crowd diminished and then stopped as the old soldiers came into view, at the main door of the cathedral. Their uniforms were old-fashioned, their out-of-style caps threadbare and battered, their boots down at heel but all had a polished shine to them. On the men’s chests were their decorations, glittering medals awarded for bravery, endurance, courage, loyalty, fortitude and strength. These men were no longer strong. They were old and some were frail but all walked resolutely heads high to the front of the magnificent church. They had given up their youth to defend our country; they had seen things young men should never have to see; they had witnessed cruelty and anger and endured vicissitudes of bitter cold, unbearable heat, drenching rain, rats and viruses, bacteria and filth and yet here they all still were coming up the aisle as we all turned, silent and regarded them. Three cheers for our soldiers said a loud voice and we raised our voices to the echoing vaults of the church till we were satisfied that we were heard. It was our way, our country’s way, of saying thank you. It wasn’t enough of course. More money should have been appropriated, better medical care provided, respect even but we gave what we could. We looked around piously at each other, smiling briefly, acknowledging the situation. Then we applauded again, vigorously. We added our decorous decoration to their chests, to their stooping frames clad in uniform. And then, we went on with our lives.