My Father's Badge

My Father's Badge

                  In boyhood days I used to feel,

                  That gold and silver shield,

                  And heavy it felt in my little hand,

                  That was my Father's Badge.

5                 The teenage years were wild times,

                  Running forward though half-blind,

                  Always he was there to guide my path,

                  That was my Father's Badge.

                  As a man, I stood at his side,

10                He would teach and sometimes chide,

                  Duty, Honor and more he had,

                  That was my Father's Badge.

                  Along his grave side I did kneel,

                  Through the air, solemn Taps did peal,

15                "And I'll cherish your symbol of service, Dad",

                  That was my Father's Badge.

                  Perhaps some day if I have a son,

                  And if he's asked what his father had done,

                  He'll say with prideful eyes so glad,

                  That was my Father's Badge.

Dedicated to the memory of all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities.

They do for us what we cannot; may their Badges never fade.

Brian K. Eddy

May 15, 1994

I could never find the right words to tell my father how much I loved him.

  Honor, respect and love don't seem strong enough for the man who gave me life and protected my innocence.  As men we may have had disagreements and occasionally not even liked one another, but my gratitude is beyond words.