Memorial Day 2026. I recently wrote this song without thinking of Memorial Day, but here it is and the lyrics are appropriate.

I was born just as the Korean War started. My father, who served in the Marines during World War 2, was called back to active duty, leaving my mother at home with a newborn. She said she would never forgive the government for that, but I’m sure she did. Less than 20 years later, I served in Vietnam during that war. The events in the song experienced by my grandfather and son were created to serve the message. 

I generated the image in Adobe Firefly. 

Road to Glory – ©2026 Scooter Smith

My daddy fought in Okinawa
My grandpa at the Marne
I went to South Vietnam
Just to live and learn
My son got sent to Kuwait
And then again to Iraq
But when his hitch was over
They sent him right back

Hey, capricious politicians
Learn something from history
Hey, you power mad patricians
You are lost on the road to glory

My brothers sweat in jungles
Freeze their feet on frozen plains
In war there is no winner
Can’t help but feel their pain
Why should we have to sacrifice
For reasons clearly insane
Governments just pose and preen
Then send us into war again

Hey, capricious politicians
Learn something from history
Hey, you power mad patricians
You are lost on the road to glory

Do I need redemption?
Is there forgiveness to be had?
Is there a reason to sing this song
When all it says has been said?
Then I finally realized
My obligation for getting gray
I somehow lived when others died
So the fallen can have their say

And what do they say?

Hey, capricious politicians
Learn something from history
Hey, you power mad patricians
You are lost on the road to glory
Lost on the road to glory
The road to glory