Remember those that look out for us.
(c) 2008 by Sean M. McFarlin all rights reserved. The author grants specific permission for the reading of this poem at the funeral or memorial service for any United States Armed Service man or woman entitled One Last Ride.
ONE LAST RIDE
The boy stood outside the garage
And he looked in through the door
At the bike parked in its normal spot
Above the oil stain on the floor
He tried to act indifferent
But his impatience would not hide
Because his daddy said when he got home
He'd take him for a ride.
But the boy knew that it'd be awhile
For now he'd have to wait alone
His daddy was a soldier
Fighting for freedom far from home
And when he thought about his daddy's job
His heart filled up with pride
And he could hardly wait for the day to come
When he and daddy would go ride
Every week the boy got mail
Delivered from a desert land
And he cherished every word he read
'Cuz it was in his daddy's hand
In every letter daddy promised him
And his daddy never lied
I can't wait to get back home, son
So we can both go on a ride
On a summer day they got the news
And his world came crashing in
When two men knocked on the door
And asked mama, "Ma'am can we come in?"
And they told them what had happened
And the boy ran outside and cried
He knew that now his hero
Would never go for one more ride.
He walked out of the church doors
To where the sun was shining bright
And when he finally looked up
He saw an amazing sight
A hundred bikers all lined up
On the street right there outside
Waiting for his daddy
To take him on one last ride
They all wear the same colors
The red, the white, the blue
They fight under our flag
They represent both me and you
And for every single one of them
Who has sacrificed and died
Let's line up, every one of us
And take them for ONE LAST RIDE.
Author Sean M. McFarlin
A Soldier Died Today
by R.F. Dees and his grandson, Justin Pierce in honor of Memorial Day
and veterans who have fought in wars and conflicts.
(Posted: Marietta Monitor, Marietta, OK May 28, 1999)
He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast;
And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies, they were heroes everyone.
And tho' sometimes to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,
All his legion buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer, for old John has passed away;
And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.
He'll not be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,
For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life.
Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own way,
And the world won't note his passing, though a soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
And thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great.
Newspapers tell their life stories, from the time that they were young.
But, the passing of a simple Soldier goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land,
A person who breaks promises and cons his fellow man,
Or the ordinary fellow, who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country and offers his life?
It"s so easy to forget them, for it was so long ago,
That the "old Johns" of our country went to battle, but we know,
It was not the politicians, with their promises and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom that our Country now enjoys.
He was just a "common soldier" and his ranks are growing thin.
But, his presence should remind us, we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the Soldier's part,
Is to clean up the troubles, that others often start.
If we cannot give him honor, while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least, let's give him homage at the ending of his days.
Perhaps a simple notice, in the paper that would say,
"Our country is in mourning, cause a Soldier passed away today."