Old Army Hat

He came home to

Tennessee

Young man at the end of forty five

Only one of seven men in his platoon

That made it back alive

And he must've seen some tough things

But he never said too much about all that

Put his pictures and his memories in our cedar chest

Everything but his old army hat

By the time that

I was born

The winds of change had swept across our land

They were burning flags and draft cards

When they bothered to take some kind of stand

Now we used to laugh at grandpa

Like he was some old relic from the past '

Cause he never left the house unless he was wearing

That funny looking worn out army hat

Every eye was on him

Anytime when he went anywhere

They whispered and they pointed

But you could tell my grandpa didn't care "I ain't wearing this for them", he'd say "It's a whole lot more than that For my buddies who gave everything The least that I can do is keep on wearing this old army hat"

He called me up one morning

Said he'd seen it on the news on his

TV "They've opened up a monument to World War II In Washington DC" "I ain't getting any younger And I wish someone would take me to see that"

And I couldn't help but think they're gonna laugh at you up there

If you show up in that silly army hat

Two strangers, both salute

As grandpa walked up to the monument

One said, "Thank you soldier, for the job well done"

The other said, "Amen"

And a young boy told him "Sir, my daddy went to war and didn't make it back Could you take a picture standing here beside me And maybe let me wear your army hat"

Every eye was on him

There was not a dry one in the crowd

They whispered and they pointed

As my grandpa stood up extra tall and proud

And he told him, "Son, just keep it"

When the young boy tried his best to give it back "You're a brave little soldier and every soldier needs His very own authentic army hat" "For your daddy who gave everything the least that I can do Is pass on this old worn out army hat"