The Light Brigade

 Found my dogtags today.
 Still on the chain from 1969;
 took them off in '70.
 Dropped into a box, unremembered,
 in a closet, 'til today.
 With a few patches, ribbons,
 1st Division, 9th Division,
 little metal buttons
 with US and crossed cannons,
 in raised brass.
 Just souvenirs, perhaps.
 Just trinkets, to prove
 that a generation could be damaged
 by casual war.
 Receipts of prices paid
 and still paying.
 Volley'd and Thundered,
 and these are -
 what I have.