"HONORED WARRIOR"
>
> GRANDSON, I HAVE WATCHED YOU GROW
> TO THE YOUNG BRAVE STANDING BEFORE ME
> IN YOUR MILITARY UNIFORM,
>
> THE ELDERS HAVE TAUGHT YOU
> THE ANCIENT WAYS OF OUR PEOPLE,
> YOU HAVE LEARNED WELL, FOR YOU HAVE
> LISTENED TO THE SPIRITS OF OUR ANCESTORS,
> YOU HAVE BECOME ONE WITH MOTHER EARTH.
>
> YOU HAVE NOT FOLLOWED A PATH
> THAT WOULD DISHONOR YOUR NAME,
> OR BRING SHAME TO YOUR PEOPLE.
>
> I STOOD IN THE DUSTY PATH AND WATCHED
> YOU LEAVE OUR VILLAGE, TO JOURNEY
> ACROSS MANY WATERS TO ANOTHER LAND
> AND STAND TALL IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY,
>
> THE EAGLE BROUGHT COMFORT TO MY CHEST
> HE CIRCLED MY LODGE CALLING YOUR NAME,
> THE GREAT SPIRIT WOULD BE WITH YOU.
>
> GRANDSON, I THINK OF YOU AS OFTEN
> AS THE SUN JOURNEYS ACROSS THE SKIES,
> I TREASURE THE THINGS,
> YOU GAVE ME WHEN YOU WERE SMALL.
>
> IF YOU MUST MAKE THE FINAL JOURNEY
> TO THE PEACEFUL LODGE BEYOND THE BLUE
> YOU WILL MAKE IT WITH HONOR
> EVERYTHING WE CHERISH
> CAN BE TAKEN AWAY, EXCEPT OUR HONOR.
>
> HONOR CANNOT BE GIVEN, IT MUST BE EARNED.
>
> TODAY, THE EAGLE CIRCLED MY LODGE,
> AGAIN, CALLING YOUR NAME,
> THE GREAT SPIRIT ANSWERED MY PRAYERS.
>
> ONCE MORE YOU STAND BEFORE ME,
> A DECORATED AND HONORED WARRIOR,
> YOUR SPIRIT REFLECTS THE SCARS OF WAR,
> YOUR HEART IS HEAVY, YOUR EYES ARE SAD,
> FROM THE LOSS OF BROTHERS AND FRIENDS.
>
> MAY YOUR SPIRIT FIND PEACE,
> IN THE HONOR AND PRIDE OF OUR PEOPLE.
>
> MAY THE WORLD OUTSIDE OUR VILLAGE
> SEE THE HONOR AND COURAGE IN YOUR HEART.
> Ben Steen, Copyright 1994
>