Inspired by the personal military journey of David Burnell, this song is a tribute to veterans’ resilience, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment. From intense boot camp days to Cold War operations, from burying comrades to navigating the pain of separation, this anthem captures the true heart of service. Whether you’ve worn the uniform or loved someone who has, this song honors the courage it takes to serve.

(Verse 1)
I laced my boots in ’84,
Signed my name, walked through the door.
A cop’s son with a quiet plan,
To serve, to stand, to be a man.
Boot camp days, the fire and grind,
Leading fifty, holding the line.
Learned to breathe in a storm of doubt,
Calm in chaos, work it out.

(Pre-Chorus)
From Austin skies to foreign ground,
Where whispers turn to battlegrounds.
A thinker’s heart, a warrior’s face,
Learning strength, learning grace.

(Chorus)
This is the making of a veteran,
Through the fight, through the fall,
Every mission, I gave my all.
From shadows cast to freedom’s dawn,
I carry the names of those now gone.
With every scar, with every mile,
The making of a veteran,
The making of my life.

Verse 2)
Cold steel coffins on the tarmac black,
Flags draped tight, never coming back.
Burial honors, a final call,
Learning the cost, I stood tall.
In desert storms and nights alone,
With just a blanket and a video from home.
Smelling my son’s crib sheet tight,
A father’s heart in a soldier’s fight.

(Pre-Chorus)
From Europe’s towers to desert sand,
With radio, rifle, steady hands.
The price of peace, the weight of war,
I knew the score, I knew the score.

(Chorus)
This is the making of a veteran,
Through the fight, through the fall,
Every mission, I gave my all.
From shadows cast to freedom’s dawn,
I carry the names of those now gone.
With every scar, with every mile,
The making of a veteran,
The making of my life.

(Bridge)
With John in the ashes, running through pain,
Hostage drills, the cold, the rain.
On standby, pager in hand,
Ready to fight in any land.
From Cold War walls to terror’s rise,
I stood my post with open eyes.

(Final Chorus)
This is the making of a veteran,
Through the fight, through the fall,
Every mission, I gave my all.
From shadows cast to freedom’s dawn,
I carry the names of those now gone.
With every scar, with every mile,
The making of a veteran,
The making of my life.

(Outro)
Thank you, Uncle Sam, for the man I became,
For the stories I carry, for the weight, for the name.
A veteran’s heart, a warrior’s song,
The making of a veteran —
Where I belong.

For more information, please visit www.davidburnell.com