My happiest day turned out to be my saddest

When I walked across that parade deck

After thirteen weeks of strain

I strolled as more than a U.S. Marine

I strutted across as a man

After years of service in many different places

I began to yearn for home

Starting to count down the remaining days

Before that day would come

I looked forward to seeing the family

And walking the streets again

To sleeping as long as I wanted

And not having to dress in green

That day finally came

And it was time to turn the page

The ride home was filled with thoughts of what I might see

Of those who I might meet

The closer I got to home, my thoughts suddenly changed

Now I was thinking of what I was leaving

Stranger at the start but another family in the end

Names and faces that I may never see again

Something about knowing that they had my back

Knowing that they never judged

Knowing that they would never let me down

And knowing that they would lay down their live to save mine

I realized that nothing in this world

Could ever replace what I left behind

And though the people were no more

The memories would never fade

So on this Memorial Day

I salute all those I left behind

And all those who went before me

But mostly those still serving