Tribute to a Fallen Hero

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LAST WEEK ANOTHER WARRIOR DIED

WITH HIS RIFLE BY HIS SIDE

I KNOW HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN CRIED

AND SO DID I DEEP INSIDE

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THEY HAD HIS PICTURE ON TV

STANDING TALL FOR ALL TO SEE

BUT I KNEW HE'D RATHER BE

HUNTING DOWN OUR ENEMY

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SOMEDAY WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS WAR

JUST LIKE THOSE WE'VE HAD BEFORE

AND HE'LL BE PART OF OUR LORE

HE GAVE HIS LIFE AND SO MUCH MORE

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LIKE SEEING HIS SON BECOME A MAN

AND GIVING AWAY HIS DAUGHTER'S HAND

AND LISTENING TO A COUNTRY BAND

SING ABOUT THE PROMISED LAND

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LAST WEEK AN AMERICAN HERO DIED

I HOPE THE LORD WAS AT HIS SIDE

I KNOW HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN CRIED

DIDN'T WE ALL DEEP INSIDE ?

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Sergeant First Class Nathan Chapman was the first soldier killed during the war in Afghanistan. He and his family lived in Puyallup, Washington at the time of his death and he is now buried at Tahoma National Cemetary in Maple Valley, Washington. I had the honor of presenting his wife Rene an Honorary Black Belt in his memory a few years back and later received a very special note from her regarding this poem.