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Retirement

i accept the death
of that part of me
that thought it
was all of me,

in growing into
smallness i give
the power away to
argue how great i am

and instead find
somewhere under
cover of award
and faded accolade

the purpose for which
i worked so hard when
i had none, and was
happier for it

—Maj. Lance B. Brender

A soldier listens as Maj. Gen. Allan M. Pepin, commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and U.S. Army Military District of Washington, gives his remarks during a Department of the Army retirement ceremony is held at Conmy Hall, Joint Base Meyer-Henderson Hall, Arlington, Virginia, 18 November 2021. (Photo by Joseph B. Lawson, U.S. Army)

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March 2023