A powerful piece, Larry! ... and timely for Veteran's day tough memories of returning warriors of the Viet Nam era. I still recall the emotions of Nam Vets in my two companies as they returned from Desert Storm with such honor and admiration. What a contrast to how they'd been treated just a decade and a half earlier!
An excellent variation on a rondeau too!
I've been trying to focus on writing one over the past couple of weeks, but I have a lot of irons in the fire... and now I've learned that I'll likely have to have a complete revision of my left knee, which is about 20 years old and bowing badly. May be spending Christmas in the hospital or rehab.
Hard to focus on one, even though rondeaux are among my favorite vehicles!
deLighting in your ability, Daniel