Daddy’s Boots…a moving poem for children of warriors…by CJ Heck… The poem is quoted…
Daddy’s Boots
by CJ Heck
Daddy left his boots for me
and here I have to stay.
My daddy is a soldier.
I’m in charge while he’s away.
In Daddy’s boots, I can pretend
that now I am the man
who does the things that Daddy does
as only Daddy can.
I help with little brother,
I help with folding clothes,
I help to take the trash out,
and I hope Daddy knows
that every day I wear his boots
so I’ll feel close to him
and I try to keep Mom happy,
till he comes home again.
I know that he’s protecting us,
that’s what soldiers do,
but his boots are way too big for me
and my job, being him, is too.
I wonder when he’s coming home.
I miss him ALL the time.
Mom said Dad is proud of me
and his boots fit me … just fine.
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Dad, a US Navy WWII and Korean War combat veteran, was a stranger in our home for most of our lives as kids. My oldest brother really didn’t get to know his Dad until WWII ended, and that never turned out so well. For the rest of us born following WWII, it didn’t turn out well either. But we all had one thing in common, we loved Dad because he was our hero and America’s hero. Dad, like thousands of military men and women with families protected our freedoms so we could live our dreams and life challenges as well. We served too! I am proud to share my military family legacy and equally proud to preserve the memory my father’s selfless and brave service to America…
Steve Sparks, Author, Reconciliation: A Son’s Story and My Journey of Healing in Life After Trauma, Part 1… Please click on the highlighted text for my author page…
