> Funeral Poems > Military Funeral Poems
The Best 8 Military Funeral Poems
This selection brings together Military Funeral Poems, paying homage to those who have served with honor and bravery. These verses offer a profound respect for the sacrifice and dedication inherent to military life, making them appropriate for reading at the funeral or memorial service of a service member. The listed poems provide a respectful and dignified tribute, acknowledging the strength, courage, and commitment of those who dedicated their lives to protecting others.
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1) O Captain! My Captain!
Author: Walt Whitman's
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You’ve fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
The poem's themes of leadership and sacrifice resonate with military values, making it an appropriate choice for military funerals.
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2) Memories
Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
A beautiful and happy girl,
With step as light as summer air,
Eyes glad with smiles, and brow of pearl,
Shadowed by many a careless curl
Of unconfined and flowing hair;
A seeming child in everything,
Save thoughtful brow and ripening charms,
As Nature wears the smile of Spring
When sinking into Summer's arms.
A mind rejoicing in the light
Which melted through its graceful bower,
Leaf after leaf, dew-moist and bright,
And stainless in its holy white,
Unfolding like a morning flower
A heart, which, like a fine-toned lute,
With every breath of feeling woke,
And, even when the tongue was mute,
From eye and lip in music spoke.
How thrills once more the lengthening chain
Of memory, at the thought of thee!
Old hopes which long in dust have lain
Old dreams, come thronging back again,
And boyhood lives again in me;
I feel its glow upon my cheek,
Its fulness of the heart is mine,
As when I leaned to hear thee speak,
Or raised my doubtful eye to thine.
I hear again thy low replies,
I feel thy arm within my own,
And timidly again uprise
The fringed lids of hazel eyes,
With soft brown tresses overblown.
Ah! memories of sweet summer eves,
Of moonlit wave and willowy way,
Of stars and flowers, and dewy leaves,
And smiles and tones more dear than they!
Ere this, thy quiet eye hath smiled
My picture of thy youth to see,
When, half a woman, half a child,
Thy very artlessness beguiled,
And folly's self seemed wise in thee;
I too can smile, when o'er that hour
The lights of memory backward stream,
Yet feel the while that manhood's power
Is vainer than my boyhood's dream.
Years have passed on, and left their trace,
Of graver care and deeper thought;
And unto me the calm, cold face
Of manhood, and to thee the grace
Of woman's pensive beauty brought.
More wide, perchance, for blame than praise,
The school-boy's humble name has flown;
Thine, in the green and quiet ways
Of unobtrusive goodness known.
And wider yet in thought and deed
Diverge our pathways, one in youth;
Thine the Genevan's sternest creed,
While answers to my spirit's need
The Derby dalesman's simple truth.
For thee, the priestly rite and prayer,
And holy day, and solemn psalm;
For me, the silent reverence where
My brethren gather, slow and calm.
Yet hath thy spirit left on me
An impress Time has worn not out,
And something of myself in thee,
A shadow from the past, I see,
Lingering, even yet, thy way about;
Not wholly can the heart unlearn
That lesson of its better hours,
Not yet has Time's dull footstep worn
To common dust that path of flowers.
Thus, while at times before our eyes
The shadows melt, and fall apart,
And, smiling through them, round us lies
The warm light of our morning skies,
The Indian Summer of the heart!
In secret sympathies of mind,
In founts of feeling which retain
Their pure, fresh flow, we yet may find
Our early dreams not wholly vai
The poem's themes of leadership and sacrifice resonate with military values, making it an appropriate choice for military funerals.
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3) My Journey's Just Begun
Author: Ellen Brenneman
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
Don't think of me as gone away
My journey's just begun
Life holds so many facets
This earth is but one
Just think of me as resting
From the sorrows and the tears
In a place of warmth and comfort
Where there are no days and years
Think of how I must be wishing
That you could know today
How nothing but your sadness
Can really go away
And think of me as living
In the hearts of those I touched
For nothing loved is ever lost
And I know I was loved so much
The phrase "My journey's just begun" can be interpreted as a reference to a military career and the idea of embarking on a new mission or assignment.
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4) The Echo of Taps
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
In the distance, we hear the echo of taps,
A mournful farewell, a love that'll last,
For the soldier we miss, so brave and true,
We'll remember their sacrifice, our hearts feeling blue.
Through the battles they fought, the burdens they bore,
Their memory lives on, forevermore,
We'll cherish the laughter, the moments we shared,
In the silence of night, their love we'll declare.
Though they've marched on, to a faraway place,
In our hearts, their presence, we'll forever embrace,
The echo of taps, a somber refrain,
We miss you, dear soldier, until we meet again.
This poem fits directly into the category of Military funeral poems. It incorporates key elements such as the reference to "taps," a bugle call played at military funerals in the United States, and the emphasis on the soldier's bravery and sacrifice. It expresses the emotions often associated with a military funeral, including mourning, honor, and deep respect for the departed.
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5) A Warrior's Journey
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
Let us gather in the sunlight, and celebrate,
The life of the soldier, whose courage was great,
Through trials and triumphs, their love never waned,
A warrior's journey, forever ingrained.
We'll share the stories, the laughter and tears,
The memories we made, throughout the years,
A life well-lived, a love so strong,
In our hearts, dear soldier, you'll always belong.
In the dawn's embrace, and the twilight's caress,
We'll celebrate your life, your fearlessness,
A warrior's journey, a love that's true,
Forever, dear soldier, we'll remember you.
This poem fits perfectly into the category of Military funeral poems as it pays tribute to a soldier's life, their courage, and their journey. It appreciates their sacrifices while simultaneously comforting and inspiring those left behind. The poem effectively captures the unique qualities of military service and honors the memory of the soldier.
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6) A Soldier's Wit
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
In the barracks, the laughter rang,
As tales of the soldier, we joyfully sang,
A humorous spirit, a heart so light,
They brightened our days, and warmed our nights.
Through the toughest of times, they'd crack a smile,
Their wit and humor, a balm for life's trials,
So, as we gather to honor their name,
Let laughter and love, forever remain.
We'll share the stories, the jokes they'd tell,
Remembering the laughter, like a magical spell,
A soldier's wit, a treasure we'll keep,
In our hearts, dear friend, your memory will seep.
This poem fits into the category of Military funeral poems as it specifically addresses the memory of a soldier who has passed away. It offers a unique perspective by focusing on the soldier's humor and the joy they brought to their surroundings, offering a somewhat lighter tone that might be comforting at a military funeral.
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7) A Soldier's Sacrifice
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
With gratitude, we stand today,
To honor the soldier, who's marched away,
Their courage and valor, their love so deep,
A debt we owe, in our hearts to keep.
For every battle won, every challenge faced,
Their sacrifice we appreciate, with hearts embraced,
In the silence of the dawn, the twilight's glow,
We'll remember their service, a love that grows.
A soldier's sacrifice, a gift we'll treasure,
A love so profound, it knows no measure,
Thank you, dear soldier, for all that you've done,
Your legacy lives on, in the hearts you've won.
This poem fits well within the category of Military funeral poems. It highlights the themes of honor, gratitude, sacrifice, and remembrance, which are central to military funerals. It is a heartfelt tribute that recognizes the immense contributions of the soldier and acknowledges the void their departure has left.
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8) A Hero's Heart
Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as poems are sometimes tailored/personalised.
A hero's heart, so strong and true,
In the soldier we loved, forever imbued,
A great person they were, a beacon of light,
Guiding us through, the darkest of nights.
Their love and compassion, a testament to all,
They stood so tall, in the face of the squall,
With honor and courage, they fought every fight,
A hero's heart, forever shining bright.
As we gather to honor their memory,
We'll cherish their greatness, their legacy,
A hero's heart, a love so divine,
In our thoughts, dear soldier, you'll forever shine.
The poem falls under the category of Military funeral poems, as it speaks about the loss of a soldier and honors their memory. It captures the essence of their courage and dedication, which are characteristic traits of military service, and suggests that these qualities have left a significant impact that will continue to be remembered.
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