Boots, Wings, and Freedom's Flame

[Verse 1]

Dust on my boots from a Carolina road,

Granddaddy’s dog tags still hangin’ in the truck window.

He stormed Normandy beaches, came home quiet and slow,

But every Fourth of July he’d light up the sky just to let freedom glow.

[Verse 2]

Uncle flew choppers over Saigon’s green hell,

Came back with a limp and stories he’d never tell.

Now he’s grillin’ burgers for kids who don’t know his name,

But they sleep safe tonight ’cause he carried the flame.

[Chorus]

Here’s to the boots on the ground, the wings in the air,

The ships on the water, the ones who were there.

From Valley Forge winters to desert sand storms,

You wrote “still standing” in blood and in thorns.

We raise up this glass, we sing it out loud—

Thank you, veterans, for holdin’ the line proud.

[Verse 3]

Sister shipped out when the towers fell down,

Came home with a bronze star and a half-hidden frown.

She teaches my boy how to fold up the flag,

Thirteen clean folds for the price that you paid.

[Verse 4]

From muskets to missiles, from trenches to drones,

You left your families and carried our homes.

Some never made it to hear this song play,

But their echo keeps marchin’ in our hearts every day.

[Chorus]

Here’s to the boots on the ground, the wings in the air,

The ships on the water, the ones who were there.

From Valley Forge winters to desert sand storms,

You wrote “still standing” in blood and in thorns.

We raise up this glass, we sing it out loud—

Thank you, veterans, for holdin’ the line proud.

[Bridge]

No parade can repay, no medal shines bright

Enough for the nights you gave up to fight.

But know when the fireworks crack in the dark,

We’re seein’ your courage in every spark.

[Final Chorus – half-time, big build]

Here’s to the boots on the ground, the wings in the air,

The ships on the water, the ones still out there.

Every era, every war, every scar that you bore—

America’s heartbeat is the oath that you swore.

We raise up this glass, let the steel guitars cry—

Thank you, veterans… freedom don’t die.

[Outro]

Yeah, freedom don’t die.