POEMS AND TRIBUTES

Armed Forces Memorial Tribute Flag

Designed by one of the creators of the Armed Forces Family Aid and Relief™ fund, the Armed Forces Memorial Tribute Flag is both a salute to America's armed forces, and a source of aid to our military personnel and their families.  To quote the designers of this wonderful tribute:

'This flag is not about war or peace, it's not about politics or protest. It's simply about paying homage to the brave men and women of our armed forces who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice and who gave their lives to ensure that Americans - and other citizens of the world - enjoy the sacred privilege of freedom.'

Visit their website.  Read the testimonials to the efforts of these patriots.  Buy the flag.  It's a noble image for an excellent cause.

Some Words About Destroyers

If you are, or were, a Sailor and never rode a Tin Can, you still have some life to live...

Old Glory

I am the flag of the United States of America.

My name is Old Glory...

Old Glory

...my birth certificate was penned off the coast of Fort McHenry by Francis Scott Key.

Another stirring tribute to Old Glory...

Freedom Rock   

One man's tribute to Freedom, and to the men and women who protect it.

Military Salute Project   

Military Salute distributes a CD containing a 34-minute Windows Movie rendering tribute to America's Military.  People who've seen the tribute describe it as touching, awesome, absolutely amazing, and high-impact.  It's a powerful reminder of how much we owe the heroes who guard our country.  The Webmaster of this site is a disabled Vet who knows firsthand the meaning of the words honor and sacrifice.

The Navy Wife

I wanted The Navy Wife poem read at my Retirement Ceremony.  But none of the versions that I could locate seemed quite right to me, so I wrote one of my own.

The Military Spouse

This one is different from 'The Navy Wife,' but quite powerful.

The Navy Wife

One of the more traditional versions of this tribute to the Navy Wife.

Navy Wife

This poem was written by AD1(AW) Lance Brady for his wife Joan, on the occasion of his retirement from the Navy.  It is reproduced here with his permission.

The U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation

The home of the U.S. Navy Memorial.  This site is packed with resources.  Be sure to browse the FAQ's.

I am the American Sailor

I am the American Sailor...  Hear my voice, America!  Though I speak through the mists of 200 years, my shout for freedom will echo through liberty's halls for many centuries to come...

Mount Soledad Memorial

A beautiful memorial to Veterans of the Korean War.

Once I was a Navyman

I like the Navy.  I like standing on deck during a long voyage with sea spray in my face and ocean winds whipping in from everywhere...

The Navy Hymn

The lyrics to the Navy Hymn.

Bury me with Sailors...

A great tribute to Sailors.

The Sailor's 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my pilot, I shall not go adrift...

The United States Flag Page   

A page that pays tribute to the Stars and Stripes.  There's a little bit of everything here: poetry, protocol, history, quotes, diagrams.  Easily the best site of its kind that we've seen.

The Average American Military Man

This tribute was submitted by one of our website's visitors.  We don't know the name of the author, but this appears to have been designed for uncontrolled distribution.  If you are aware of a copyright on this tribute, please send our Webmaster an email, and we will either remove it, or provide author credit, as the owner desires.

Beholding Beyond Words

Song lyrics written in recognition of our troops.  We thank the lyricist for his heartfelt tribute.

If He Could Hear Me...

A poem written by a Navy wife during her husband's first deployment.

The Man of My Dreams

We generally stick to the Surface Warfare theme around here, but when the wife of a U.S. Navy Submariner wants to post a poem to her Sailor, far be it from us to refuse.

The "No Right Answer" Game

This poem was written by Russ Vaughn, the Poet Laureate of The American Thinker.  Russ was inspired to write this after reading one of my columns, 'The Wrong Army,' on Military.Com.  I'm both flattered and surprised to find that my writing has fired someone else's muse.  Russ captured my message beautifully, and restates it with far more eloquence than I was able to manage.

Proud to Be...

A poem about pride in service, written by ET3 Joshua N. Winn, an active duty Sailor.

USN

A poem written by Maria Brodeur, as her eighteen year old son left home for Navy boot camp at Great Lakes.  Composed of equal parts sorrow and pride, this poem is a powerful reminder that it's not only our men and women in uniform who pay the price of freedom.

I - A Tribute to the Fallen

A song/video written and performed by singer/songwriter Tony Diana.  It is a tribute to the service members who have fallen in the struggle for freedom.

He Was a Sailor

A brilliant tribute by retired Master Chief and renowned Navy poet E. A. Hughes.

The Cole

A poem written in tribute to the Sailors who lost their lives in the terrorist bombing of USS Cole.

A Mother's Poem

A poem written by a proud mother after watching her son's Navy Boot Camp company Pass In Review.

Call of the Sea

A poem by Alan William Paris EMCS (SS), USN (Ret.).  Senior Chief Paris dedicates 'Call of the Sea' to Submarine Sailors of the U.S. Navy past and present.  This poem was originally published in The International Who's who in Poetry in 2004.

Patricia Welch

The website of renowned vocalist Patricia Welch.  Be sure to listen to, United We'll Stand, an extraordinary song written by Patricia and her husband, Pete DuBarry, as a tribute to the hero's of 9/11.

Dad's Navy Angel Friends

A poem by the proud son of an old Sailor who now serves in the Navy of Heaven.  The poet, Irving E. Rice, wrote this beautiful tribute in response to a dream about his departed father and the shipmates he once sailed with.

Navy Corpsman

Here's one from the Doc.  Retired Chief Corpsman Mac McGovern wrote this poem in tribute to his rating.  Doc McGovern reminds us of the famous words of Lieutenant General Chesty Puller, who said, "You guys are the Marines doctor --There's none better in the business than a Navy Corpsman."  Truer words were never spoken.

On Watch

Another excellent poetic tribute by Retired Chief Corpsman Mac McGovern.  Bravo Zulu, Doc!

A Mate In Navy Blue

A poem about the loss of a shipmate, written by a Vietnam era Sailor, who is now a Street Minister.

Defenders of Freedom

A poetic tribute written by a military wife and military mother as her son deployed to Iraq.

How Do You Say Goodbye?

A beautiful poem written by the fiancé of a Sailor, as the man of her dreams prepares to deploy to Iraq.

Master Chief

A heartfelt tribute to retired Navy Master Chief Raymond Ronald Reeves, written and submitted by his grateful niece.

It Is You

A stirring tribute from a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer to the American flag.

A Mother's Tribute

An Honorably-Discharged Mother's tribute to her daughter's Pass In Review.

Someday

A Sailor's heartfelt message to his two year old daughter. 

How Can You Say Goodbye?

A young woman's poem for her Sailor in Boot Camp. 

The Immortal Show Boat

A powerful and touching poem written by a Sailor who served aboard the USS North Carolina from 1941 to 1946.  Submitted in his name, by his beloved wife. 

Do you have a poem/tribute to Sailors, or a website honoring the men and women of our Navy?  Drop us an email and we'll try to post it.

We recognize and honor copyrights and intellectual property rights, so please submit only your own work.