Old Army Hat

He came home to Tennessee a young man at the end of '45

Only one of seven men in his platoon that made it back alive

He must have seen some tough things

But he never said too much about all that

He put his pictures and his memories in a cedar chest

Everything but his old Army hat

By the time that I was born

The winds of change had swept across our land

They were burning flags and draft cards

When they bothered to take any kind of stand

And we used to laugh at Grandpa

Like he was some old relic from the past

'Cause he never left the house unless he was wearing

That funny looking, worn out Army hat

Every eye was on him anytime that he went anywhere

They whispered and they pointed

But you could tell my Grandpa didn't care

I ain't wearin' this for them, he'd say

It's a whole lot more than that

For my buddies who gave everything the least that I can do

Is keep on wearing this old Army hat

He called me up one morning, said he'd seen it on the news on his TV

They've opened up a monument to World War II in Washington, D.C.

I ain't getting' any younger

And I wish someone would take me to see that

And I couldn't help but think they're gonna laugh at you up there

If you show up in that silly Army hat

Two strangers both saluted

As Grandpa walked up to the monument

One said, "Thank you soldier for a job well done" the other said "Amen"

And a young boy told him

"Sir, my daddy went to war and didn't make it back

Could you take a picture standing here beside me

And maybe let me wear your Army hat?"

Every eye was on him, there was not a dry one in the crowd

They whispered and they pointed

As my Grandpa stood up extra tall and proud

And he told him, "Son, just keep it"

When the young boy tried his best to give it back

You're a brave little soldier and every soldier needs

His very own authentic Army hat

For your Daddy who gave everything the least that I can do

Is pass on this old worn out Army hat