I Am A Veteran

I am a veteran. Once a young patriot who had volunteered, To join the military. And it was clear a sacrificing of my life, Was a possibility. And yet the thought of it did not frighten me. I am a veteran. I did not decide, To slide over onto Candadian borders... Thinking I could avoid my responsibility. With an escaping of a draft I did not receive. I wanted to protect those deserving of freedom. I am a veteran. One of the Vietnam War Era. I didn't walk the halls of an Ivy League college. To party in between studying for a degree. No! But I did take college courses and studied diligently, While also performing my military duties. I am a veteran. One who is Black 'and' American AND proud to be. But as a veteran I have learned, The battles I continue to fight... Are needlessly fought on the streets of my own country. With people who did not serve a duty at all... But feel they are more deserving of entitlements, And a respect not shown to me. Yes... I AM a veteran. But yet I am expected to support, Those who feed their greed. As I am perceived, Not to be worthy! And so hard it is for me not to believe, The color of my skin is the reason for that. I am a veteran. Conditioned to aware of the facts.