Little Johnny learned early in life, 
you don’t get something for nothing. 
There’s always a price. 
He stole a piece of bubblegum once; 
his mom made him pay for it. 
“That’s not nice!” 
Well, he studied hard, got his diploma, 
spouts trophies, too; takes effort. 
“It’s yours if you want it.” 
One day he walked into a recruiter’s office; 
there are many of them. 
He enlisted in the army, 
part of a helicopter rescue squadron. 
He was deployed to various hostile environments. 
He and his team saved many people;
they were angels of salvation, their mere presence. 
One day they came under enemy fire; 
their helicopter erupted into a funeral pyre. 
His remains were buried with honor back home. 
The price for freedom was paid, but not alone.