The mourners filed in single file, hats off br Tissues in hand, eyes averted from the sad sight. br The coffin was closed and a simple spray br Of red, white and blue carnations br Adorned the ornate brass lid. br br The sermon was beautiful, br Calling to mind the founding fathers, br Their ideals and fortitude br In the face of tough decisions, br And concluded with the message br That those qualities will never go out of style, br So long as there is something left br Worth fighting for, worth dying for. br br The audience seemed loath to leave, br And one finally raised a hand, with a question: br 'Who and what could ever replace what we just lost? br For this was the consummate American; this was the America, br That untold numbers of soldiers were willing to die for, br And outsiders risk death, just to make it to our shores..