The Mother on the Sidewalk

The mother on the sidewalk as the troops are
marching by
Is the mother of Old Glory that is waving in
the sky.
Men have fought to keep it splendid, men have
died to keep it bright,
But that flag was born of woman and her suf-
ferings day and night;
'Tis her sacrifice has made it, and once more
we ought to pray
For the brave and loyal mother of the boy who
goes away.

There are days of grief before her; there are
hours that she will weep;
There are nights of anxious waiting when
fear will banish sleep;
She has heard her country calling and has risen
to the test,
And has placed upon the alter of the nation's
need, her best.
And no man shall ever suffer in the turmoil of
the fray
The anguish of the mother of the boy who goes
away.

You may boast men's deeds of glory, you may
tell their courage great,
But to die is easier service than alone to sit and
wait,
And I hail the little mother, with the tear-stained
face and grave,
Who has given the flag a soldier-she's the
bravest of the brave.
And that banner we are proud of, with its red
and blue and white,
Is a lasting holy tribute to all mothers' love of
right.

Edgar A. Guest, 1917

You'll have to forgive me, day 1 of longest deployment ever (for us anyway) and I'm a little sappy. But I have this awesome necklace to keep my company, thank you etsy!!
Of course I'm saying goodbye to my husband in pajama pants, doesn't everybody?

Chase was going crazy over the grass, he had never seen green grass because we are too cheap to water in a drought. Love this little boy walking!