Momservation: All gave some. Some gave all. Never forget the ones that did fall. Thank you Veterans.
☺ ☺ ☺
You left at eighteen
The call of duty always your song
No one believed in you
You were going to prove them wrong
Photo by proud dad, Ronald Silveira
You left a boy
And became a Navy sailor
A man for his country
Whose first duty was honor and valor
You saw your first Gulf War
On the USS Carl Vinson at age twenty-three
Your family so relieved
With a swift victory
But your house was a ship
Stationed on coasts far from home
We stayed connected by letters
And holidays over telephone
You rose through the ranks
Serving your country your trade
Not often you could visit
Two weeks the longest you stayed
- Photo by proud dad Ronald Silveira
You became a hero
When stationed at Guantanamo Bay
A crashed burning plane
You saved two souls that day
On far flung shores
You grew your own family
It wrenched our hearts to miss it
But just glad you were happy
Another Gulf War broke out
More family fear of the danger
You promised you were safe
But it made you a stranger
You missed holidays and birthdays
You missed funerals and weddings
But how proud you made us
We were never forgetting
In serving your country
Time had become a thief
Suddenly our drifting boy
Had become a dashing Navy Chief
- My brother, Chief Ron Silveira, and me
The Chief’s uniform sleeve tells of your patriotic devotion to duty and now your sister has revealed the full measure of the man as well. You offered youth and sacrificed your health to the cause of freedom and when offered thanks and praise your selfless reply is just, “It was an honor to serve.” Maybe so son but few are your equal. Carry on.
Nice touch, Dad.
A beautiful tribute to your brother and all who serve.
Thanks, Michelle. It was the least I could do for all his done and sacrificed.