My ex-husband wrote a song called "Memorial Day". It appears on our album, "A Dram For the Singer".

MEMORIAL DAY
(David Cowan)

I suppose there was a time when I thought that war meant honor
That it mattered what you fought for, made a difference if you won
But I guess even my father's war was not the kind in stories
Even though it was the good war
Even though they had some heroes
Even so, the things that mattered weren't so easy when it was done

I went off to my war with a hero's words still ringing
Asking not what I was getting, wanting part of something
grand And I thought that if I worked hard and did everything they asked me to
I could really make a difference
I could save what needed saving
I could prove what needed proving
And then things would be ok

I guess what I remember most was always being dirty
Always feeling homesick and always feeling tired
And there were a couple of friends of mine that taught me about honor
In a war that had no heroes
And in places that are nameless
Even though it didn't matter if we lost or if we won

It seems to me as I look back, the best ones didn't make it
What that makes the rest of us, I really couldn't say
But I know that if the tables turned and it was me they were remembering
I would not wish them sorrow
I would want them to be happy
I would need them to live for me
And if they had to shed some tears
Just a few on Memorial Day

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