I feel that before we can celebrate the men of today, we have to celebrate the men of yesterday, who sacrificed so that we would have the opportunities we have today. Men, this one is for you.
This One is for You
copyright 2009 by P. Newman-Harris
We cannot celebrate today
Without giving tribute to those who paved the way.
In all we say and do,
This one is for you.
We give honor where honor is due
We celebrate you,
The proud, the brave and the strong
Who fought to right the world’s wrongs.
For people you did not know,
You challenged the status quo.
This one is for you, men of every color and race,
Who took their place
To defend their fellow countrymen,
The Tuskegee Airmen,
The Buffalo Soldiers, who determined to fight
While being denied their inalienable rights.
For every contributor to America’s freedom
Who was unable to see this day come.
We stand for those who, with hope in their hearts, rode freedom’s train
Only to find more of the same.
To the brave men that walked the line
Defending the rights that are now mine.
We honor this sacred trust
You have bestowed upon us.
Because of you, we have not only seen the dream,
We now know what it means
To live in a place where freedom is granted, not just to some,
But to everyone who would come.
One day in America, made every dream of equality come true.
So, we reserve this time to give honor where honor is due.
To every ancestor that fell blazing freedom’s trail.
From the greatest to the least of men, we so proudly hail.
For it was their sacrifices that enabled one man
To have the audacity to hope and the courage to believe we can.
In all we say and do
This one is for you.