A Veterans Day Salute to My Hero

Daddy, you were the first man I knew
I learned so many things from you
How to swim and ride a bike alone
And the proper way to answer our phone.


When I was young, you went far away
To serve your country while we played
I didn't know then what it really meant
When to Vietnam you were sent.


From far away, you kept in touch with us all
While doing your duty and standing tall
Helping a people we never knew
As all of your children older grew.




You sent letters and cards to your girls and boys
With words of encouragement instead of toys
Telling us how to live and to grow
To learn the things we needed to know.


When you returned home, you took your spot
As head of the family, teaching us a lot
Taking us here and taking us there
Leading kids and Boy Scouts everywhere.

You answered whatever questions we asked of you
With things to remember that we knew were true
You showed us how to grow up strong and tall
To be men and women who helped one and all.

On this Veterans Day, I want you to know
I appreciate the ways you taught me to grow
Although I didn't always thank you back then
Now I know better and I thank you again.


You're no longer with us, yet you're still here
On this day and every day of the year
Watching and guiding with love in your heart
Until we're together again, nevermore to part.


Thanks for the gifts of your wisdom and words
Now we remember those things that we heard
Repeating them now that we are grown
Teaching the kids we now call our own.

Your 90 years passed so quickly
To us, it still seems like a blur
Your Scouts called you The Colonel
And your soldiers called you sir.



To us, you were Daddy, back then and still now
The man we looked up to, you showed us how
To live our lives in service to others
To respect and to love, especially our mother.


Thanks so much, I am so proud to call you Dad
The man I looked up to, even when I got mad
For those who you helped and those who you saved
For the lessons you taught and the words that you gave.



As we honor and remember veterans everywhere
I gaze toward Heaven and offer this prayer
Thank God for Daddy, my hero I'll never forget
A soldier among soldiers, a vet among vets.

-- Sandy Wallace, proud daughter of Colonel Robert A. Atkins, Sr. US Army Retired
Veterans Day 2015, adapted from my poem "On Ode to Dad: My Hero" written June 4, 2012

To My Dad, My Hero

I miss you every day, Dad
But today's a special day
A year ago today you left this earth
Following Mom along Heaven's way

You taught us many lessons
By the way you lived your life
About courage and love and duty
Helping others and dealing with strife.

You answered freedom's call like many others
Although you were just a young man
Bravely walking into the face of danger
Always ready with a plan.

In World War II, Korea and Vietnam
Your country you proudly served
Fighting for the rights of others
And for freedom to be preserved.

Kids don't know much about heroes
Or why dads do the things they do
But any kid can tell you
A Dad's love is always true.

You taught us about love of family
And to look out for each other
But whenever we asked for anything
You told us, "Go ask your mother."

Your love for Mom ran deep
More deep than we could know
As she slipped away into God's embrace
You knew it was your time to go.

On Father's Day I thank you
For gifts of life, courage, strength and love
As you celebrate in Heaven
My special angel up above.

Dad, save a place for me up there
Put in a good word for me too
Someday I'll be singing "Almost Home"
As I prepare to join God, Mom and you.

I remember precious memories
You're always in my heart
Someday we'll be together again
Though for today, we are apart.

You set an example of family life
And taught me what to do
To raise my kids to be good people
Who help others - just like you.

Thanks for everything, Daddy
Your love and the lessons too
I'll hold you always deep in my heart
And strive to be just like you.

Loved and missed always, but forever in my heart
XOXOXO
Love, Ciss