You stood there by the gurney, when that old man's soul slipped free, And you spoke up with a promise meant for all of us to keep- The gift that we are given isn’t something we can own. You said we must protect it, or we'll wake up and it's gone... Freedom, it isn't free-you see, we work at it, we tend, We nurture it, we guard it, and defend it to the end. So in this solemn hour, let the truth be what it is: You lived to help the breathing- And you died the way you lived. In Southern Minneapolis, the sun was shinning bright. A phone held up in one hand, and the other in clear sight. A shove, then pepper burning, it was chaos in a blink, And what we all saw next, made our stomachs start to sink. They stripped you of protection, and then a sudden sound.. On hands and knees, but seconds later, lying on the ground. The faceless, fascist, murderers, they asked "Where is the gun?" But as they counted bullet holes, they saw there wasn't one. Freedom, it isn't free-you see, we work at it, we tend, We nurture it, we guard it, and defend it to the end. So in this solemn hour, let the truth be what it is: You lived to help the breathing- And you died the way you lived. They said you were "a terrorist", "a rioter", and "threat", Before the snow had time to melt, the road still red and wet. But video cut through all the lies, of talking heads and sheep: They showed a patriot defending, what your patients fought to keep. Freedom, it isn't free-you see, we work at it, we tend, We nurture it, we guard it, and defend it to the end. So in this solemn hour, let the truth be what it is: You lived to help the breathing- And you died the way you lived. And if the halls can hold an honor walk for those who served, Then let the halls remember-what you gave, and what you earned: Respect and admiration for a man that now must fly. Because a hero saw a human wronged and couldn't just stand by. Freedom, it isn't free-you see, we work at it, we tend, We nurture it, we guard it, and defend it to the end. So in this solemn hour, let the record show the cost: Healer and inspiration, to our nation, that was lost. ============ RIP: Alex Pretti (11/09/88 - 01/24/26) ============
