The 11th hour
The 11th day
The 11th month
Of 1918—the War to end all Wars came to an end
Charging with their rifles into no man’s land with nothing more than a prayer
Americans heeded a nation’s call
From Belleau Wood to a forest named Argonne
They fought in the trenches, and in the air
After the Forest of Compiégne, war-weary soldiers came home
Swords were hung o’er the fireplace mantle
Doughboys, Devil Dogs, and Hellfighters returned rifles to the armory
They tried to reclaim who they were a’fore the war
Words, and deeds left by they who raised a right hand
Duty, honor, and country—to take a stand
Tall and proud they stood, yet the thousand-yard stare remained
Sacrificed youth, in a war that was to end all wars
Those who answered the call never go away; they are still with us present day
Service of a century ago ’tis not forgotten
Noble sacrifices of a hundred years ago live on today
For every war is different, every war is the same.
One hundred years gone by, ‘twas once Armistice Day, ‘tis now Veteran’s Day
Those young men of so long ago, nothing but a memory now
Nevertheless, the legacy they left lives on in all who have served
For in every soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, in every veteran a little bit of the Great War remains