I never wore the uniform,
no medals on my chest.
The band it doesn�t play for me,
I am not among �the Best.�
I do not march in cadence,
I do not rate salute,
I stand among the silent ranks,
our devotion absolute.

If you�ve not worn my shoes,
you do not know my story.
I live a life of sacrifice,
my reward a private glory.
I�ve wept many silent nights away,
and I�ve kept the home fires burning.
I�ve worried and I�ve waited,
as world events were churning.

I�ve moved more times than you could fathom,
left more people than you�ve known.
I�ve planted gardens �round the world --
Very few that I�ve seen grown.
I�ve grieved with new-made widows,
and had my share of scares --
when a ship or plane or man was down,
and all I had were prayers.

I�m not asking for your sympathy,
(although appreciation can be nice)
I did it quite on purpose though --
I chose to sacrifice.
I�ll tell you a secret now,
one you�d never guess.
About the one glory that is mine,
it�s just enough � no more, no less.

When you and I stand together
as our national anthem plays,
I�ll fill with reminiscences
of how I spent those days.
I�ll know the pain and joys again,
I�ll know that freedom isn�t free,
I�ll know I�ve helped to pay the price �

and that the anthem plays for me.