Ebony and ivory 
with many shades of gray 
make a team and army of one
leading civilians into soldiers,
but leaving empty  
shells called veterans.
There is no right or wrong.
Just do.
The yin and the yang of troops.
They say, “What Courage.
How Trustworthy.
Speak of Valor.”
Then why do we 
feel like cowards 
in despair?
Have no trust?
Feel ignored rejected and afraid?

Author’s Note: This writing is from of the Support Our Troops Committee/art4vets Zaloga Post, American Legion Community OutReach.