My first date with the man I would later marry
and share my life with for twenty-five years
was a Diamondback's game
on a bright sunny day.

Just returned from two tours in Nam,
he was a young Navy Lieutenant.
We stood, as is custom, for the National Anthem
and when it was over, I heard a small child's voice
say, "Mommy, look at that man,
he's crying."

I looked around to see who he was speaking of
and turned to my date to ask if he knew.
There he stood, wiping tears from his face.

From that day on
that song
had new meaning to me
and I've looked
at our flag
differently.