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To Our Knights in Tarnished Armor: The Firefighters and Police Officers of New York City

By Kathy Henderson Swiney, CCC-SLP, Aldine Independent School District , Houston, Texas

To our knights in tarnished armor
Is there end to your travail?
You were first to mount the tower
Running in when others hail.

We watch heroes worn and weary,
Their own blood upon the field.
In the silence at day's dawning.
Is life or death revealed?

For days the battle lingers on,
Ravaged cities, wounded towns.
The brave and weak together fell,
Bloody harvest on our ground.

Will daylight break your spirit or
Will the weary warriors stand?
Your answer comes on rubble's heap,
"Raise the banner o'er our land!"

As the dust begins to loosen
Its grip on heroes' fate.
Will seconds end? Will evil bend?
Will our deliverance wait?

In radiant beams of triumph,
Vict'ry's tarnished warriors stand!
How great the shout of triumph!
How exalted this weary band.

Rise now, gallant heroes all.
Show the world, our warriors stand.
Our knights in tarnished armor,
Have prevailed to save our land.



God Bless America and her Heroes!

Copyright Kathy Swiney 2001