The Last Mile

By: Iain Sherwood

I walked the last mile with my brother today
In the garden of stone.
On a caisson drawn by horses gray
He rode alone.
Drum beats echoed hollow in the air
As iron shod hooves rang on the pavement.
A platoon his escort
To take him home in Arlington,
Where a century of heroes lie row on row
Their duty done.

The Honor Guard carried him lovingly
For brother he is to all those there interred.
Amid presidents, astronauts, explorers and heroes
He takes a place well deserved.
The prayers are said; the volleys fired
And the flag is folded
Carefully, never again to be unfurled.
Rest well, weary soldier, now and forever;
The Corps has called you home.
Rest well, my brother.

Iain Sherwood, September 19, 2002, MacLean, Virginia
I wrote this the day we buried my brother, Captain Charles Sherwood III, on his birthday, at Arlington.

SHERWOOD, CHARLES III

• CAPT   US MARINE CORPS
• VETERAN SERVICE DATES: 08/03/1964 – 11/29/1966
• DATE OF BIRTH: 09/19/1941
• DATE OF DEATH: 06/23/2002
• DATE OF INTERMENT: 09/19/2002
• BURIED AT: SECTION 12  SITE 2092
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard