We little dreamed how much he loved his Country and her Flag;
    About the glorious Stars and Stripes we’d never heard him brag. 
    But he was first to volunteer, while brilliant men demurred,
    He took the oath of loyalty without a faltering word,
    And then we found that he could talk, for one remembered night,
    There came a preaching pacifist denouncing men who fight,
    And he got up in uniform and looked at him and said: 
    “I wonder if you ever think about our soldiers dead. 
    All that you are to-day you owe some soldier in his grave;
    If he had been afraid to fight, you still would be a slave.”

    If he had died a year ago beneath a peaceful sky,
    Unjust our memory would have been; of him our tongues would lie. 
    We should have missed his splendid worth, we should have called him frail
    And listed him among the weak and sorry men who fail. 
    But few regrets had marked his end; he would have passed unmourned—­
    Perhaps by those who knew him best, indifferently scorned. 
    But now he stands among us all, eyes bright and shoulders true,
    A strong defender of the faith; a man with work to do;
    And if he dies, his name shall find its place on history’s scroll;
    The great chance has revealed to men the splendor of his soul.

         Here We Are!

Here we are, Britain! the finest and best of us
Taking our coats off and rolling our sleeves,
Answering the thoughtless that once made a jest of us,
Each man a soldier for what he believes. 
Here we are, tight little island, in unity! 
Tell us the job that you want us to do! 
You can depend on us all with impunity. 
Give us a task and we’ll all see it through.

    Here we are, France! every Yankee born man of us
    Coming to stand by your side in the fight;
    Liberty’s cause makes a whole-hearted clan of us. 
    Here we are, willing to die for the right. 
    Silently, long from our shores we’ve admired you,
    Secretly proud of the pluck you’ve displayed. 
    Brothers we are of the love that inspired you;
    Now we are coming, full front, to your aid.

    Here we are, Allies! make room in your trenches! 
    Shoulder to shoulder we’ll share in each drive. 
    Here we are! quitting our lathes and our benches,
    Bringing our best that our best shall survive. 
    Here we are!  Liberty’s children, red-blooded,
    Coming to share in the struggle with you,
    Ready to die for the Flag that’s star-studded;
    Tell us the work that you want us to do.

    What is it, fighting or building you’re needing? 
    Boring a mountain or bridging a stream,
    Steel work and real work?  Your call we are heeding. 
    Each of us here is a man with a dream. 
    Here we are! tacklers of tough jobs and dangers,
    Any old post where you put us we’ll fit;
    Coming to serve you as brothers, not strangers;
    Here we are, Allies! to offer our bit!