Veteran's March

Boots on gravel Dust in my teeth Name on my chest plate Home in my sleeve Sun at our shoulders Sand in our seams Letters in rucksacks Folded-up dreams This is the veteran's march Step by step, heart by heart Carrying stories you don't see Every mile, a memory This is the veteran's march From battlefield to backyard You may not know what I've survived But I still rise, I still rise Sleepless highways Headlights blur Laugh at the quiet Cry at a word Coffee at midnight Shadows that stay Salute in a mirror Face lined with days This is the veteran's march Step by step, heart by heart Carrying stories you don't see Every mile, a memory This is the veteran's march From battlefield to backyard You may not know what I've survived But I still rise, I still rise (oh, I still rise) For the names we carry For the ones not here We keep them walking In every tear Hand on my shoulder Says, "You're not alone" We share the weight Till we get home This is the veteran's march Step by step, heart by heart Carrying stories you don't see Every mile, a memory This is the veteran's march From battlefield to backyard You may not know what we've survived But we still rise, we still rise Left, right Soft on the ground Old boots New hometown This is the veteran's march