As most of you know I work for the Marine Corps. I got this poem emailed to me and just had to post it. Keep them all in your thoughts and prayers. 

Daddy's Poem

Her hair was up in a pony tail,
her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
and she couldn't wait to go.

But her mommy tried to tell her,
that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand,
if she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid;
she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates
of why he wasn't there today.

But still her mother worried,
for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again,
she tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school
eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees
a dad who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall in back,
for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
anxious in their seats

One by one the teacher called
a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,
as seconds slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name,
every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
a man who wasn't there.

"Where's her daddy at?"
She heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one,"
another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back,
she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
too busy to waste his day."

The words did not offend her,
as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher,
who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back,
slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child,
came words incredibly unique.

"My Daddy couldn't be here,
because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
since this is such a special day.

And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy,
and how much he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories
he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses,
and taught me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes,
and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him.
I'm not standing here alone.

"Cause my daddy's always with me,
even though we are apart
I know because he told me,
he'll forever be in my heart"
With that, her little hand reached up,
and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads,
her mother stood in tears!
Proudly watching her daughter,
who was wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the love
of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
doing what was right.

And when she dropped her hand back down,
staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
but its message clear and loud.

"I love my daddy very much,
he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,
but heaven's just too far.

You see he is a Marine
and died just this past year
When a roadside bomb hit his convoy
and taught Americans to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes,
it's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes,
and saw him there that day.

And to her mothers amazement,
she witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children,
all starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them,
who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,< BR> they saw him at her side.

"I know you're with me Daddy,"
to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
of those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it,
for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.

And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
by the love of her shining star.
And given the gift of believing,
that heaven is never too far.

Date         1st 2nd 3rd Series Avg

9/5/2006 236 227 256 719 239.67
9/12/2006 203 159 204 566 214.17
9/19/2006 223 201 181 605 210.00
9/26/2006 225 203 186 614 208.67
10/3/2006 193 202 175 570 204.93
10/10/2006 151 213 195 559 201.83
10/17/2006 193 200 180 573 200.29
10/24/2006 214 178 193 585 199.63
10/31/2006 226 269 234 729 204.44
11/7/2005 180 194 231 605 204.17
11/14/2006 248 225 224 697 206.73
11/21/2006 206 212 217 635 207.14
11/28/2006 225 168 173 566 205.72
12/5/2006 192 222 197 611 205.57
12/12/2006 191 211 228 630 205.87
12/19/2006 198 215 247 660 206.75
1/2/2007 167 189 200 556 205.49
1/9/2007 161 225 229 615 205.46
1/16/2007 213 233 191 637 205.82
1/23/2007 173 217 257 647 206.32
1/30/2007 226 226 193 645 206.73
2/6/2007 184 268 228 680 207.64
2/13/2007 216 160 204 580 207.01
2/20/2007 175 172 202 549 206.01
2/27/2007 181 158 212 551 205.12
3/6/2007 234 267 221 722 206.49
3/13/2007 181 225 185 591 206.14
3/20/2007 279 222 214 715 207.29
3/27/2007 179 205 249 633 207.41
4/3/2007 213 193 236 642 207.63
4/10/2007 202 202 169 573 207.10
4/17/2007 226 248 248 722 208.15

Average   204 210 211 624 208