A Tradition of Ballad and Song

A family tradition, as the ballad continues, we mourn today a soldier’s song.
A voice, a hero, who fought for peace, who knew the price of freedom’s ring.
His duty, protecting and defending came first, always with truth, with honor, and with pride.
Now he lies draped with stars and stripes of red, white, and blue.

He was groomed to stand upon his father’s stars, a General of two world wars.
A story of decoy in enemy’s firing rounds, an oath, his men called to safety first.
Like his forefather, Colonel Henry Cotheal Evans Jr., a leader from birth, a person of decision.
He now lies draped in stars and stripes of red, white, and blue.

He stepped upon Georgetown University’s ivy lined stairs at seventeen, a premed.
Then appointed, to march upon cobblestones with Cadets of elite.
He was graduated from West Point Military Academy in the year of nineteen fifty-one.
He lies draped with stars and stripes of red, white, and blue.

From Korea, to Vietnam, to the Cold War, to Star Wars, to back and forth from beyond.
A drummer’s echo still beats the rhythm of his untold stories of wartime, memories  of past.
Today, he is dressed in his army full blues, his medals shine, as a bugle calls for taps.
Now he lies draped in stars and stripes of red, white, and blue.

A lifetime learner, Degrees and Masters hang upon the walls, a hallmark of a scholar.
Two Bachelor of Science degrees, Aeronautical Engineering, an MBA, Telecommunications,
A graduate with honors from the Industrial War College in Washington, D.C.
He worked with countries around the world, developing the self propelling Howitzer.
A scholar, he is draped in stars and stripes of red, white, and blue.

His family moved in hum, twenty-one times from west to east, following the rhythm of the sun.
In tour, over the Atlantic, landing in Italy, ciao! Rolling into Germany, gutenmorgen!
Now riding on caisson followed by riderless horse, moving closer to an eternity among the best.
The sound of cannon echoes from across the Potomac,
As he is draped with stars and stripes of red, white, and blue.

As a boy, he trained pigeons in code, honed to return. Then he turned to dogs, agility, intelligence to test.
Scotch was first to toast, Ruff flew in helicopters in fields of battle, Shami was awarded a bouquet,
The best in show at the Gardens.  Daisy his last, still awaits his arrival.  She was a private enlistment,
His most faithful soldier. Her ears upright, creased at full salute, barking at bellowing flag at half mast.
Guards with precision, fold the flag in his honor, for the last time,
Stars and stripes, in red, white, and blue.

As I write a lifetime of words across the page, a generation of ballad and song is continued.
An officer, a father, a grandfather, a husband, a friend.  His voice is not whispered but carried forward.
Passing history, memorializing a war hero, remembering through pen and ink.
Hawk in dovetail crest above, encircling freedom’s song, protecting truth, our country, as I entrust.
Today, Colonel Henry Cotheal Evans Jr. is draped with the American flag,
Stars and stripes of red, white, and blue.

With all my love, I say Adieu.

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