An American Hero – dedication poem
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45474/o-captain-my-captainAn American Hero – dedication poem honoring our fallen heroes
©2015 by Jon Gutmacher
I wrote this poem back in 2015 after the death of Chris Kyle, a Navy seal who is perhaps the greatest sniper who ever lived. He served four tours in the War in Iraq, and was a hero to all of those he served with. He came home deeply affected by the war, with severe PTSD, but pulled himself together, and dedicated himself to his family, and trying to help other troubled war vets. He was untimely killed by one of those vets while trying to assist him. A tragedy for all of America, for he deserved so much more from all of us. The poem is a tribute to Chris, and to all of those who gave their lives for this honored Nation. It is a powerful poem, and one of the most moving you will ever read. The “muffled drums” within the poem are a tradition in a military parade to a fallen hero. The story of Chris Kyle was made into a movie: American Sniper. A portion of the movie, from YouTube, comes at the end of this poem. However, what I need to add here is, the more I read this poem, the more I realize how close it is to “My Captain, My Captain” by Walt Whitman.
An American Hero – a poem honoring fallen heroes
copyright 2015 by jon gutmacher
I hear the muffled drums
close in the distance
People stop
some shed tears
men remove their hats
others place a hand over their heart
remembering what you did
and who you were
And the muffled drums
come closer
An American hero
has come home
He returns home
flag draped
lying prone
eyes no longer able to see
senses no longer able to feel
restrained forever from the joy of his
friends and family
and has passed far beyond this once endeared place
Where so many have come out
to honor him
Four tours in a distant land
hardship
loss
but a profound sense of duty that drove him on
to live in a hostile land
and do what so few others were willing
to do
And the sound of the muffled drums
come closer
ever closer
An American hero
has come home
He gave his life
to protect his country
and all that he held dear
only to return
in gloried sorrow
to a nation that can never mourn his loss
enough
Honored son
dear friend
devoted father
noble warrior
One who’s valor never diminished
May the tears of the many
line the road as you pass
from those who can never repay this
your greatest sacrifice
And the muffled drums
come closer
ever closer
to honor one of their own
An American Hero
has come home
My heart races
my breathing tightens
I feel the lump in my throat
as I try to force back tears that I cannot
for now comes
that most dreaded of moments
when the reality of it all hits me
as I see your casket pass by
Flag draped, set in a carriage
drawn by four noble black steeds
with Honor Guard flags lowered
as the procession slowly winds its way
through the town where you grew up
and to that Honored place
from whence all find their final rest
And like so many others
I am overwhelmed
and fall in and join the procession
of each and all your townsfolk
to honor one of our own
For an American Hero
has finally
come home
The background image shows the Iwo Jima Monument at Arlington National Cemetery at night time.
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