It didn’t happen here, the things I should recall

It was long ago and far away, and my memory is small

It happened in Lexington, Princeton too and a place called Cowen’s Ford

But none of it happened here, in my present comfortable world

 Afloat on great Lake Erie, it happened late one morning

And later in old Mexico, it set the tide a turning

 Then thousands met at Gettysburg, so it could happen there

And the blood-soaked ground called “Wilderness” does this honor share

It happened in the Philippines and up the San Juan hill

Before doughboys went over the top, though this seemed farther still

About as far as Iwo Jima, Truk and Midanao

Horrendous days of costly gain, we seldom think of now

It happened at Chosin Reservoir, and a place dubbed Heartbreak Hill

And names like Ia Drang, Khe Sahn, Dak To, their stories few will tell

Medina Ridge, Falluja, and then in Kandahar

Foreign names now familiar, from lands away and far

My wife and I, our children, live secure and without fear

Because valiant men gave up their lives in places far from here

They made their awesome sacrifice, my name to them unknown 

And bought for me my freedom, for my family and my home

But one more place I think of, where freedom’s price was paid

Calvary, the greatest battle won, the perfect ransom made

So yes, I honor those who gave, as Christ their last full measure

Their hallowed gift to me like his, a holy, unearned treasure

Some may forget, Some may neglect, to hold their memory dear

But as for me and my house

Well, that won’t happen here

In honor of all those who have followed Jesus' example of laying down their lives for others