Edmond Boy Honors Dad in Award-Winning Poem

Nate Yokell of Edmond.

Nate Yokell is a ninth grader who lives with his family in Edmond. His award-winning essay in the Armed Services YMCA national art and essay contest was on display in the U.S. Senate’s historic Russell Rotunda June 29-July 2. Here is the poem he wrote about his father Lt. Col. Richard Yokell. Enjoy.

 
Honor and Glory 

Honor and Glory: two words, too common

Found ever so often, made ever so trite

We hear them used over, and over again

But still just as often, not always used right 

There are always those few

Who serve us today

With no one to recognize

No one to say 

Of their great deeds

As they protect us all

Who, unlike most

Are willing to fall 

For their country and family

And their friends back at home

As they fight for our freedom

As 'round war zones they roam 

I never really game them

The respect they deserved

As they waged wars for our freedom

And that freedom, they preserved 

But one day just a few months ago

I received some news that made me mad

The call to serve that had never faced me

Would be in some time taking from me my dad 

I never believed it,

Never thought, never dreamed

That he'd really be gone

And to God I doubtfully screamed! 

"How could you, dear God?"

I cried, terrified

And in just four short months,

My fears verified 

March 4th he left

The 11th he arrived

To stay for six months in

The place my fears were derived 

In the end he was fine,

On Earth still with me

But words can't express

The terror I'd feel 

He's now different to me

Full of things I should learn

Teeming with values and merits

And passions to burn 

But best of his feats

As he shines a valiant sheen

Most importantly he taught me

What Glory and Honor truly mean