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.