We family friends and brothers
Are gathered here today
To respectfully send
A brother Veteran on his way.
A man of quiet dignity,
Of gentle smiling charm
Who seemed to face the world
With a reassuring calm.
There's a hole in our ranks
A silent, empty chair.
There's a missing presence,
Our brother's no longer there.
The regiments are assembled
On that last Parade ground
Come to attention
To the bugle's sound:
A movement in the ranks,
No longer an empty space,
With unassuming dignity
Our brother has taken his place.