This was written about my experience when I graduated from Technical School at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX. I was in the Colorado Army National Guard and had been trained as a combat medic and operating room technician.

 

Graduation

Pride- I never truly understood

the sensation until then.

We march in time to the music,

coming onto the parade grounds

where the applause deafens us.

This is graduation day.

We are the medical corp

of the Army.

We take care of those

who are injured or killed.

We will risk our lives to save theirs.

As we stand on the field

and listen to the speeches,

we wonder where this will take us.

We hear a familiar sound;

choppers in the distance and

the theme from M*A*S*H begins

to play.

As we listen,

They fly over us in formation.

Red crosses painted on the bellies

of each machine.

The symbol we will come

to know well as we serve our country.

Tears fill my eyes

as I stand proud.